Brief interventions and referral for smoking cessation in primary care and other settings

This guidance is for GPs and other professionals working in local health services – in primary care trusts (PCTs), pharmacies and dental practices – and NHS hospitals.

The recommendations include the following advice:

• Ask people who smoke how interested they are in quitting.
• If they want to stop, refer them to an intensive support service such as NHS Stop Smoking Services.
• If they are unwilling or unable to accept a referral, offer a stop smoking aid (pharmacotherapy).
• A range of NHS agencies should offer advice and support on how to stop smoking.
• Monitoring systems should be set up so that health professionals know whether or not their patients smoke.

• Other information

  • PH1 Brief interventions and referral for smoking cessation: guidance (web format)

  NICE Pathways

  This guidance has been incorporated into the following NICE Pathways, along with other related guidance and products.

  Visit the NICE Pathway: smoking

  How this guidance was produced

  Background information

  • Methods for development of NICE public health guidance
  • The public health guidance development process: An overview for stakeholders including public health practitioners, policy makers and the public
  • Smoking cessation intervention draft recommendations: stakeholder consultation table
  • 2006/015 NICE launches first public health guidance: focus on smoking cessation and physical activity
  • PH1 Brief interventions and referral for smoking cessation: evidence
  • Brief interventions and referral for smoking cessation: economic modelling report

Guidance formats

• Web format
• Quick reference guide (PDF)
• Full Guidance (PDF)