We aimed to characterize current tobacco and nicotine product use and tobacco cessation efforts in Swiss primary care, including the prescription of medications and recommendation of vapes to quit smoking.
Cross-sectional study from pediatricians and primary care physicians (PCPs) in the Swiss Sentinella network (practice-based network to monitor infectious diseases). PCPs collected data from 30 consecutive patients ≥12 years of age between September and December 2021. Patient data included age, gender, nicotine products use, plans to quit, and time discussing smoking cessation. PCP data were their use of medications, follow-up appointments, and vapes for quitting smoking.
Eighty-nine of 168 PCPs participated (53 %) and collected data on 2438 patients, of whom 523 (21,5 %) used a nicotine product within seven days, of whom 88 % smoked cigarettes. Among the 106 (20 %) who planned to quit smoking, 16 (15 %) planned to use nicotine replacement therapy, nine (9 %) varenicline, six (6 %) vapes, five (5 %) bupropion, and 57 no treatment (54 %). Moreover, 236 (46 %) of 523 patients using nicotine products received one to five minutes of cessation advice, 80 (16 %) six to ten minutes, and 17 (3 %) >10 min. Half of PCPs offered follow-up and medications to ≥50 % of patients planning to quit, while 52 % never recommended vapes.
The use of nicotine products remains common among primary care patients, the majority of whom smoke cigarettes. Nicotine products without tobacco remain relatively rare. After the consultation, one in five patients using nicotine products planned to quit, the majority without any aid.