ABSTRACT
Tobacco dependence is a chronic disease that often requires repeated intervention and multiple attempts to quit. It is essential that clinicians and health care delivery systems consistently identify and document tobacco-use status, treat every user seen in a health care setting, and provide adequate support through follow-up. This chapter describes the need for follow-up during the clinical interaction as the relapsing nature of tobacco dependence makes it mandatory. Follow-up is a key step during intensive intervention with or without pharmacotherapy. It captures the information on the structure of the follow-up visits required and appropriately record suitable information. This gives an understanding of the barriers to follow-up and infers that the user should be made aware of the need for regular follow-up and its role in maintaining a tobacco-free life.
