Pediatric Provider Cessation Toolkit
Ask - Advise - Connect - Follow Up:
A Clinical Referral Pathway for Pediatric Providers
As a healthcare provider, you can make a real difference in the health of your patients, young and old, by using the Ask-Advise-Connect model to identify and assist people who are using commercial tobacco* products.
* The term “Commercial tobacco” is used intentionally to differentiate from the use of traditional tobacco by some Indigenous peoples and American Indian tribes.
Pediatricians have a critical role to play in identifying young patients using commercial tobacco products, then helping them avoid becoming addicted or treat their nicotine dependence.
Did you know?
3% of 6th graders, 5% of 8th graders, 10% of 10th graders, and 15% of 12th graders in Washington use e-cigarettes, cigarettes, or both. Source: WA Healthy Youth Survey
E-cigarettes contain large amounts of addictive nicotine and come in a wide array of youth-appealing flavors.
68% of youth who vape have tried to quit, but almost two-thirds received no cessation support. Source: NYTS 2021 data in Pediatrics
Youth Tobacco Cessation Tools from The American Academy of Pediatrics
The AAP has developed excellent Youth Tobacco Cessation Tools, including a progressive web application to walk you through the process.We recommend these resources.
- Tobacco Cessation App
- NRT Prescribing Options for Youth
- Order free printed Quitline materials for your office. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW to request a free shipment of 250 wallet cards and 50 rack cards
Tools for Youth Patients
- 2Morrow Health - a smartphone app that helps participants learn new ways to deal with unhelpful thoughts, urges, and cravings caused by nicotine.
- Quit nic with EX Program - a program by Truth Initiative is developed with Mayo Clinic to help you quit nic. Join for free today.
Resources
Want to learn more about helping your patients quit nicotine?
We recommend these resources.
- Cessation/Quitting Support Services - listed on the Washington Breathes website
- Smoking Cessation - The Role of Healthcare Professionals and Health Systems (CDC)
- Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update AHRQ Clinical Guidelines (current version)
- Patient Materials About Quitting Smoking from CDC
Print these patient cards or brochures or order printed copies.
- WHO Clinical Treatment Guidelines for Tobacco Cessation in Adults (new in 2024! includes system changes for healthcare facilities)
- Learning About Health Living: Tobacco and You Treatment manual from Rutgers University tailored for people with mental health conditions, including tools for motivational groups. Revised 2024.
Trainings:
American Lung Associations Ask, Advise, Refer to Quit Don’t Switch online training that gives providers tools and strategies for initiating a brief tobacco intervention and is based on CDC’s Ask-Advise-Refer model. Use the Registration link to sign up.
For providers in King County:
Learn more about about Motivational Interviewing techniques to help people quit nicotine through an online course: King County Training for Healthcare Providers
This toolkit was developed by the coalition’s Improving Cessation Treatment Workgroup and approved by the Steering Committee of Washington Breathes. It provides evidence-based materials developed by the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatricians, the Washington State Department of Health, and other authoritative sources.