The National Cancer Institute has developed a simple counseling protocol for helping smokers, called the “4 A’s.
The First A: Assess
- past and current level of smoking
- smoking patterns in family
- current stage in quitting process
The Second A: Advise/Educate
- clear message to quit
- health benefits of quitting
- effects of smoking on smoker and children
The Third A: Assist
- precontemplation
- contemplation, preparation, action
- maintenance
- relapse
The Fourth A: Arrange Follow-up
- if she is not ready to quit
- if she has agreed to try to quit smoking
- if she has already quit smoking
- how you can view your success in counseling
Smoking Cessation: Clinical Practice Guideline Number 18. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, April 1996. |
