Facilitators and barriers to smoking cessation after myocardial infarction

Smoking cessation is a key pillar of secondary prevention for patients who have experienced a cardiac event. This article summarises a literature review on smoking cessation after myocardial infarction, highlighting the implications for general practice nurses. Smoking is a major risk factor for myocardial infarction, especially for patients who have already experienced a cardiac event. However, many patients who have experienced a myocardial infarction continue to smoke, suggesting that there are significant barriers to quitting. This article summarises the facilitators for, and barriers to, smoking cessation in this patient group, based on a systematic review of primary research. It also describes challenges and potential strategies for primary care nurses with patients who have experienced a myocardial infarction and may be struggling to quit smoking.