Smoking is bad for health--that's undisputed.
But for millions of smokers, quitting smoking seems nearly impossible.
According to UPI, a new study published in JAMA Tuesday shows a program that combined phone counseling sessions with medication produces strong results.
A program with telephone counseling sessions and one of two smoking cessation drugs was 50% more effective than telephone consultations alone.
Among patients who had four bi-weekly and three monthly counseling sessions and either Wellbutrin or Chantix, 35% were able to quit smoking.
Smoking cessation assistance should be an integral part of cancer care and sustained tobacco support can be effective for cancer patients who smoke.
Elyse R.
Park, Study Co-Author Associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.