The Practitioner - 1868-2020: Supporting general practitioners for more than 150 years

Your case report would need to be around 1,500 words long, include a brief review of the literature to put the case in context, and be fully referenced in the Vancouver style.

Submissions for consideration should be sent to:

[email protected]

Clinical reviews: Smoking cessation

Nausea may affect adherence to varenicline

24 Sep 2020 Registered users

Nausea during the first few weeks of varenicline therapy may reduce adherence, a study from North America has found. The authors analysed data on 870 adults receiving varenicline in two smoking cessation trials conducted at multiple sites in Canada and the USA.

E-cigarette pilot study helps smokers quit

22 Jun 2020 Paid-up subscribers

More than a third of smokers who completed a pilot study of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid quit smoking.

Tailor smoking cessation advice to the patient

20 Dec 2019 Paid-up subscribers

Effectiveness of smoking cessation aids varies between different types of smokers, a survey-based UK study has found. The data presented in this large, representative sample may provide useful information for GPs and other treatment providers in tailoring quit smoking advice to individual patients.

Quitting smoking in pregnancy lowers risk of preterm birth

25 Nov 2019 Paid-up subscribers

Smoking cessation in pregnant women is associated with a reduced risk of preterm birth, a large study from the United States has shown. Information was obtained from live birth certificates issued between 2011 and 2017 as part of the US National Vital Statistics System. Overall, 25,233,503 pregnant women who delivered live neonates and had data recorded on pre-pregnancy and trimester-specific cigarette smoking frequency were included in the analysis.

Many smokers and former smokers have misconceptions about nicotine

25 Sep 2019 Paid-up subscribers

Nearly 40% of smokers and former smokers believe it is the nicotine in cigarettes that causes cancer, a UK study has found.

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Editorials

Smoking still the leading cause of preventable illness and early death

20 Dec 2018 Registered users

A steady decline in cigarette smoking in adults between 1993 and 2017 and a decrease in the number of both men and women drinking at harmful levels between 2011 and 2017 are key findings from the Health Survey for England (HSE) 2017. Nevertheless, smoking remains the leading cause of preventable illness and premature death and alcohol remains a causal factor in numerous medical and mental health conditions, including cancer, cirrhosis, hypertension, depression, and accidents and injuries.

Risk of acute STEMI significantly increased in younger smokers

23 Jan 2017 Registered users

Smoking is associated with an eight-fold increased risk of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in those under 50 compared with former and never smokers, a UK study has found.

Abrupt smoking cessation more effective than cutting down

Active and passive smoking linked to infertility and early menopause

Smoking-related deaths linked to a wider range of diseases

Second-hand smoke in the home more harmful than air pollution

Smoking cessation improves anxiety and depression

Weighing up the risks and benefits of smoking cessation therapies

Special reports

GPs have key role in helping patients to stop smoking

23 May 2012 Paid-up subscribers

18% of all deaths in adults aged 35 or over in England are still attributable to smoking. Almost all these premature deaths could be avoided if smokers stopped before their mid-thirties but only a quarter of people who have ever smoked regularly manage to quit by this age. GP advice is one of the most important triggers to a smoker making an attempt to quit. Evidence shows that offering help to all smokers is easier, quicker and likely to be more effective than just advising smokers to stop or asking whether they are interested in quitting.