New research shows that GPs are frequently called upon to help patients with smoking cessation and 96 per cent of them deal with such cases at least a few times a month.

The survey of 877 GPs across the UK found 71 per cent of respondents advised patients on smoking cessation at least a few times a week and 22 per cent did so on a daily basis.

On a regional level, GPs in the north-east of England were more likely to see patients who wanted to quit smoking with 81 per cent saying they did so at least a few times a week.

Referring patients to the NHS Stop Smoking Service was the most popular course of action while 60 per cent recommended a prescription medicine.

43 per cent of respondents had prescribed a course of nicotine-assisted reduction and 31 per cent had prescribed an OTC medicine/product within the past month.

29 per cent of GPs had recommended that patients bought an OTC medicine or product for smoking cessation with nicotine gum or nicotine patches being the most popular suggestions.

Simon Grime, Head of Healthcare for Doctors.net.uk, said: “Our research shows that many patients are keen to quit smoking and helping them to improve their health in this way is a key challenge for GPs.

“The NHS Stop Smoking Service is clearly the most popular solution for the majority of GPs. However, OTC medicines could become more widely used if manufacturers supplied more information and clinical evidence about their products to GPs within their preferred channels.”

The survey was conducted for OTC Bulletin by Doctors.net.uk –the UK’s largest network of medical professionals.

For more information
www.doctors.net.uk