Abstract
BackgroundVery Brief Advice on smoking (VBA) is an evidence-based intervention designed to increase quit attempts among patients who smoke. VBA has been widely disseminated in general practice settings in the United Kingdom, however its transferability to Southern European settings is not well established. This study sought to document the perspectives of Greek general practice patients in terms of the acceptability and satisfaction with receiving VBA from their general practitioner (GP) and its influence on patients’ motivation to make a quit attempt. We also examine patient identified barriers and facilitators to acting on VBA.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 50 patients who reported current tobacco use recruited from five general practices in Crete, Greece. All patients received VBA from their GP and interviews were conducted immediately after the GP appointment. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data.ResultsThe majority of patients were satisfied with the VBA intervention. Approximately one quarter of patients reported they were motivated to make an attempt to quit smoking after receiving VBA from their GP. Patients identified a clear preference for VBA to be delivered in a supportive manner, which communicated genuine concern versus fear-based approaches. Patients with an existing smoking-related illness were more likely to report plans to act on their GP’s VBA. Patients not ready to quit smoking indicated they would be likely to seek the support of their GP for future quit attempts as a result of VBA. Many patients reported low self-efficacy with quitting and apprehension about available quit smoking supports.ConclusionsVBA was positively received by the majority of smokers interviewed. Participating patients confirmed the motivational role of advice when delivered in a supportive and caring manner. Personal health status, beliefs about quit smoking supports, and low self-efficacy appear to influence patient’s motivation to make an aided quit attempt.
Highlights
Very Brief Advice on smoking (VBA) is an evidence-based intervention designed to increase quit attempts among patients who smoke
There is strong evidence that a combination of behavioural counseling and pharmacotherapy can increase success with quitting, these evidence-based treatments are often not used as part of quit attempts [3, 9]
VBA was developed by the National Centre for Smoking Cessation Training (NCSCT) in the United Kingdom (UK) and involves three steps: “Ask” patients about their tobacco use, “Advise” them that the best method of quitting is with a combination of medication and behavioural support, and “Act” by supporting them with making a quit attempt using available cessation supports (Fig. 1)
Summary
Very Brief Advice on smoking (VBA) is an evidence-based intervention designed to increase quit attempts among patients who smoke. There is strong evidence that a combination of behavioural counseling and pharmacotherapy can increase success with quitting, these evidence-based treatments are often not used as part of quit attempts [3, 9]. There is an existing body of literature, which has examined barriers to quitting, as well as, use of available stop smoking treatments among smokers. Very Brief Advice on smoking (VBA) is an evidencebased intervention designed to increase quit attempts among people who smoke [6, 18]. Uk/VBA) and involves three steps: “Ask” patients about their tobacco use, “Advise” them that the best method of quitting is with a combination of medication and behavioural support, and “Act” by supporting them with making a quit attempt using available cessation supports (Fig. 1). VBA has primarily been delivered in the UK where more than 60,000 health care professionals have completed the training
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
