Very brief advice (VBA) can be carried out by anyone. It can take as little as 30 seconds and is known to be powerful when carried out by a health professional. Asking about smoking and being able to signpost a smoker to a local Stop Smoking Service is recommended for all who come into contact with smokers through their work.
e-learning training resource – You can access an e-learning online module available from NCSCT here.
Here are some reasons to offer brief advice:
- Every contact with a patient or client is an opportunity to provide advice on quitting. Offering brief advice to stop smoking is the single most cost-effective and clinically proven preventative action a healthcare professional can take.[1]
- Smokers may take several times to quit smoking successfully, so it’s important to keep giving advice at every opportunity.[2]
- Smokers are up to four times more likely to quit smoking successfully with support from local Stop Smoking Services.[3]
- Over 60% of smokers want to quit.
- Patients will not resent being asked whether they smoke or not – they expect to be asked by their health professional.
[1] Anczak J, Nogler R. Tobacco cessation in primary care: maximizing intervention strategies. Clinical Medicine & Research 2003;1(3): 201–216.
There are a number of training options available depending on your setting and role:
GP setting
- Brief Advice Training Module (National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training)
All settings
- Brief Advice on Secondhand Smoke: Promoting smokefree homes and cars (National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training)