
Edited by Jane Wills
Jo, aged 35, visits her GP complaining of breathlessness. She is bringing up three young children alone and she is living on income support in a third floor flat in local authority housing. Jo admits to smoking 30 cigarettes a day and she has a history of high blood pressure. One of Jo's children is asthmatic. Jo's GP advises her to give up smoking and suggests that she joins a smoking cessation group run by the practice nurse. She appears to listen to the GP's advice and agrees that she must think seriously about her lifestyle. After the first group session, the practice nurse informs the GP that Jo did not attend.
Two weeks later, Jo takes her youngest child to the GP surgery because he has a chest infection. The GP asks if Jo has managed to cut down on her smoking. Jo laughs and states:
"Well, it's all very well from where you're sitting. Look, if I come up on the lottery, perhaps I'll take myself off to a health farm and get myself sorted. But, in the meantime, I reckon I'll just have to take my chances!"
1. Why might Jo be reluctant to attend a smoking cessation group?
2. What support could the practice nurse offer?
3. How would you feel about Jo continuing to smoke?