The screening can be done using a Fagerstorm Test for nicotine dependence. This test is a measurement that calculates the amount of time a patient wait to smoke after awakening (Chaney & Sheriff, 2012). Nurse practitioners should complete a history and physical on these patients during the primary care setting. Family history and past medical history of heart disease and cancers should be noted. In addition, the patient should be assessed for present illness and the number of times the patient has attempted to stop smoking. After collecting the data above, the nurse practitioner should find individualized smoking cessation intervention therapies. Studies also show that a patient receiving counseling from a nurse practitioner in addition to NRT are two times more likely to quit smoking (Chaney & Sheriff, …show more content…
With the use of counseling and nicotine replacement therapy the patients will be more adherent to treatment. In this study there will be two groups. The intervention group will only receive NRT for six months. The comparison group will receive NRT and counseling for six months. The counseling will be done twice a week with a nurse practitioner. According to Chaney and Sheriff (2012) “Smokers are four times more likely to quit if they are given behavioral/counseling support”. During these counseling session the patients will be taught coping skills, stress reduction techniques, healthy behaviors, relaxation techniques and NRT adherence. The participants will also be taught how to decrease their urge to smoke by participating in nonsmoking activities. Within this counseling their will be random nicotine urine test to measure