Providing smoking cessation counseling: A national survey among nurse anesthetists

This study helps to emphasize the important role CRNAs have to improve health outcomes with smokers undergoing a surgical procedure.. Identifying predictors for CRNAs to integrate SCC in their practice ("their duty," "worthwhile to do") provides valuable insight. Until more nurse anesthesia programs integrate tobacco education in their curricula, CRNAs should seek opportunities for continuing education related to an evidence-based approach with SCC. Obtaining an increased knowledge base may increase the confidence and competency of CRNAs regarding SCC and the frequency at which SCC is instituted amongst the surgical population. Many surgical out-patient procedures are being performed in which patients are involved in preoperative assessments several days before scheduled surgery. The CRNA should seize this SCC opportunity because of the increased available time as compared with the shorter preoperative time frame, which exists on the day of surgery. As the USPHS Guideline emphasizes, it only takes 3 minutes to ask about tobacco use, give advice against tobacco use, and assess readiness to quit. Providing the 1-800-QUIT NOW number is the least CRNAs can do to make a difference with the morbidity and mortality related to tobacco use.