Provision of Social Support as Part of Treatment

Intra-treatment social support

Encourage your patients in their quit attempts. Let them know that:

• Effective tobacco dependence treatments are now available 
• Half of all the people who once smoked have now quit 

Communicate your belief in your patient's ability to quit: 

• Ask how your patient feels about quitting 
• Directly express concern and willingness to help
• Be open to expressions of fears of quitting, difficulties experienced and ambivalent feelings 

Encourage your patient to talk about the quitting process. Ask about the: 

• Reasons the patient wants to quit 
• Concerns or worries about quitting 
• Success the patient has achieved 
• Difficulties encountered while quitting

Extra-treatment social support

Help in securing social support outside of treatment

• Train your patient to ask for support from family, friends, and co-workers 
• Help patients to identify others who will be supportive 
• Prompt support seeking: 
  • Call patients to remind them to seek support 
  • Assign patients to be "buddies" for one another. Inform patients of resources such as QuitlineNC. 
• Aid your patients in establishing a smoke-free home