Primary care providers play an important role in encouraging their patients to quit. Western Illinois AHEC is helping educate primary care providers at Critical Access Hospitals and in rural health clinics on how they can talk to patients about quitting using the 5 A’s:

ASK
Identify and document tobacco use status for every patient at every visit.

ADVISE
In a clear, strong, and personalized manner, urge every tobacco user to quit.

ASSESS
Is the tobacco user willing to make a quit attempt at this time.

ASSIST
For the patient willing to make a quit attempt, use counseling and pharmacotherapy to help him or her quit.

ARRANGE
Schedule follow-up contact in person or by telephone, preferably within the first week after the quit date.

INTERVENTION VIDEO

In less then a few minutes, providers can talk to patients about tobacco use. This video shows a successful intervention that takes only 2 1/2 minutes.

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