Smoking is still the biggest cause of preventable disease and premature death in Devon and has significant impacts on the lives of our children. Research shows that having a short conversation with a smoker about their smoking can often plant a seed for them to make a quit attempt. This can be delivered in the form of Brief Advice.
Brief Advice describes a short intervention (usually from 30 secs to 3 mins) delivered opportunistically and informally. It is known as ‘the three A’s’ which stand for ‘Ask, Advise, Act’.
Brief Advice has been used effectively to raise awareness of, and gauge, a persons willingness to engage in further discussion about a range of healthy lifestyle issues including smoking.
Brief Advice involves giving information about the most effective way to change a lifestyle behaviour and how to access it.