Tobacco Cessation - The Underused Potential in Clinical Routine

Tobacco control, psychosocial and medical assistance regarding tobacco cessation is still a hidden potential within the German health care system. So far doctors rarely talk to their patients about their smoking status and physical and psychological benefits of quitting. This paper focusses on recommended current diagnostic and treatment standards, as well as evidence-based methods to address the topic on how to stop smoking and its association with certain diseases such as COPD, lung cancer and COVID-19 infection. The role of e-cigarettes as a cessation tool and its health related risks are critically examined. Consequences and advice how to implement smoking cessation procedures into daily practice are presented.