Canadian physicians are ill prepared to talk to smokers about alternatives to tobacco products
Health Canada or a professional association should provide guidance to physicians helping smokers quit
VANCOUVER – September 3, 2019 – Canadian physicians appear to be ill prepared when it comes to discussing the variety of alternatives available to help smokers quit, according to a survey conducted for the Consumers’ Association of Canada by Research Co. Only 25% of the 456 physicians surveyed recommended electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) within the past year even though 63% believe them to be less harmful than cigarettes.
When asked if they read research on ENDS and discussed it with patients looking to quit smoking, only 37% of physicians had done so within the past month six months. A troubling statistic when we consider the number of people who credit these products for helping them to become smoke-free.
The full version of the new release can be found here. The french version is here.