Reviewed by Timothy Byrum, CRNP

Smoking cessation is critical for effective long-term management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Smoking cessation can help prevent acute exacerbations and slow disease progression over time. According to the American Lung Association, cigarette smoking is associated with 20% of all deaths in the United States, including those due to cancer, cardiovascular disease, COPD, and other airway conditions. As many as 70% of individuals who smoke visit a primary-care provider each year. These visits provide ideal opportunities to educate patients about the urgent need to stop smoking and to offer support and encouragement as they do so. Perhaps the most important health promotion intervention you can offer your patients is to help them stop smoking. This interactive course provides you with practical tools and additional resources for discussing and managing smoking cessation in collaboration with your patients.

Overview

This comprehensive program is designed to help you recognize the challenges of diagnosing, preventing, and treating COPD and to apply current evidence-based guidelines in selecting appropriate screening, testing, education, and treatment options to improve the care of your patients with COPD.

• Outline the practical benefits of smoking cessation

• List 3 practical tips on how to quit smoking

Learner Participation to Earn Credit

• Review the course material

• Complete the online post-test with a score of 70% or higher

• Complete online program evaluation

• Participation in the self-study activity should be completed in approximately 15 minutes

As a provider of CME and CE activities that are accredited by AANP, AAPA and AARC, MEBN must ensure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all of its CME activities. All faculty participating in these activities are expected to disclose any or no relevant financial interest or other relationship with (1) the manufacturer(s) of any commercial product(s) and/or provider(s) of commercial services discussed in any educational presentation, and/or (2) with any commercial supporters of an activity. Disclosure of any or no relationship(s) will be listed prior to any educational activity. All apparent conflicts of interest have been identified and resolved through MEBN’s independent, peer-review process. Our intent is to assist learners in assessing the potential for bias in information that is presented during the CME activity. The faculty are also aware of their responsibility to inform the audience if discussion of any non-FDA-approved uses of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, prostheses, etc. will be included in their presentation.

Disclaimer
This continuing education program may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents or products that are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The authors, sponsors or publishers do not recommend the use of any agent or product outside of the official labeled indications. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each agent or product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and written warnings.

Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this course should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient's conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer's product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.

The authors, contributors, and editorial staff have made every effort to contact holders of copyright to obtain permission to reproduce copyright material. However, if any permissions have been inadvertently overlooked, MEBN will be pleased to make the necessary and reasonable arrangements.

Certificate Fees

CE-TODAY offers FREE continuing education (CE) credits to recipients of the CD-ROM or the CE-TODAY journal. Enter the CE Code listed on the CD-ROM or in the journal when prompted. This free offer expires on May 26, 2007. All others will be assessed a $2.50 processing fee.