Practice Current: Variability in Smoking Cessation Intervention Practice Patterns After Ischemic Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack.

Overview

People who continue to smoke after ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) are at increased risk for subsequent stroke and cardiovascular events. Although effective smoking cessation strategies exist, smoking rates after stroke remain high. Through case-based discussions with 3 international vascular neurology panelists, this article seeks to explore practice patterns and barriers to smoking cessation for patients with stroke/TIA. We sought to answer these questions: What are the barriers to using smoking cessation interventions for patients with stroke/TIA? Which interventions are most used for hospitalized patients with stroke/TIA? Which interventions are most used for patients who continue smoking during follow-up? Our synthesis of panelists' commentaries is complemented by the preliminary results of an online survey posed to global readership. Together, the interviews and survey results identify practice variability and barriers to smoking cessation after stroke/TIA, suggesting that there is substantial need for research and standardization.