Among current smokers and recent (past-year) quitters surveyed in 2017, three-quarters had visited a doctor in the past 12 months, while around six in ten had seen a dentist (or dental hygienist) or talked with a pharmacist (Figure 6.27).
Of those who had visited health professionals, smokers visiting doctors received advice most often. Of smokers who had visited a doctor in the past year, 55.9% received advice to quit smoking, compared to 30.9% of those who visited a dentist, and 12.0% of those who had talked to a pharmacist. Figure 6.28 presents this proportion over time since 2003, but direct comparisons between 2017 and 2003-12 should not be made, due to changes in question coverage.
Of those who visited and received advice to quit, more received information about quitting assistance from pharmacists (82.9%)a, compared to doctors (62.3%)b or dentists (26.0%)c.
a: 82.9 [70.2-95.6]
b: 62.3 [54.4-70.1]
c: 26.0 [16.0-35.9]
