The Motivational Efficacy of Spirometric Health Evidence in Smoking Cessation
- Abstract -

Richard A. Wall, MD, J. Henk Burger, MD, Julie G. Stephens, MD, Amy G. Black, MD
University Family Medicine, Charleston, SC

Introduction
Common sense suggests that attempts at smoking cessation are more likely to be successful when the participants are motivated by tangible evidence of the destructive nature of their habit. It is the purpose of this study to investigate and quantify the motivational efficacy of spirometric health evidence as a tool for smoking cessation within the patient population in North Charleston, SC.

Methods
Patients with age >45 years and tobacco exposure >20 years will be staged as to their pre-encounter position as pre-contemplative, contemplative or action. This position will be reassessed following 1) a brief, standardized presentation on the health hazards of smoking, and 2) explanation of spirometric evaluation to be performed at the visit.

Results
At this writing five patients have been admitted to the study. Results will be reported, and data are continually being collected.

Conclusions
It appears that presentation of tangible evidence of the long-term effects of smoking on lung function to smoking patients may be an effective tool in assisting patients with smoking cessation. However, more data will need to be collected before this can be determined.