TORONTO - The Lung Association says the vast majority of smokers want to quit but may not have the tools to help them successfully do so.
For instance, people who live in remote and rural areas don't have the same access to telephone hotlines and group or individual counselling as people in urban settings.
As well, the association says many smokers complain that medication to help with smoking cessation is too expensive.
A survey conducted for the association between mid February and early March by Leger Marketing involved family doctors and other health professionals, smokers, former smokers and non-smokers living with a smoker.
Just over 90 per cent of smokers said they have at least some interest in quitting, and 52 per cent said they are seriously thinking of quitting in the next six months.
When smokers gauged their desire to quit on a scale from zero to 10, the average rating was 7.2.
Most doctors - in fact 92 per cent - say they bring up the issue of smoking cessation with their patients who smoke, but only 41 per cent of smokers report having been told by their doctors they should quit.
The survey shows that only about a third of the former smokers were able to quit permanently on their first attempt. Given how difficult it is, the association says smokers need a variety of supports if they are going to be able to quit. There is no one-size-fits-all approach that works, they say.
And many of the health professionals report having little training in how to help patients quit smoking.
