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Smoking Cessation In Later Life: An Evaluation Of The Impact Of Smoking Cessation Training On The Knowledge, Attitudes And Practice Of Members Of The Primary Care Team Who Work With Older People, Susan M. Kerr, Rosemary Whyte, Hazel Watson, Debbie Tolson, Angus Mcfadyen K

Dr. Susan Kerr

1. Introduction

Smokers aged 65 years and older are a vulnerable group who are likely to have conditions that are caused or complicated by smoking. Older smokers are also likely to die prematurely, losing on average 16 years from their projected life expectancy.

In recent years a growing body of research has demonstrated that older smokers can derive significant health benefits from stopping smoking in later life, despite having smoked for many years. The benefits of cessation are almost immediate for conditions such as heart disease and stroke. Stopping smoking also reduces the risk of developing cancer and stabilises existing …