Smoking cessation aids and the primary care nurse

Primary care nurses are ideally placed to address smoking cessation with their clients who smoke, playing a central role in tackling the inequalities in health that are associated with smoking-related illnesses. This paper explains the role of the primary care nurse in smoking cessation and discusses the products that are available for smokers in the UK, highlighting their advantages and drawbacks. Further research needs to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of smoking cessation aids and recommend best practice of their use in primary care settings.