What are the five A's used in nicotine/tobacco cessation counseling?

• A. Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange
• B. Acknowledge, Advise, Assess, Assist, Activate
• C. Ask, Alert, Assess, Assist, Arrange
• D. Analyze, Advise, Assess, Assist, Accept

Answer: (A)

The five A's provide a concise, actionable approach for brief tobacco-cessation counseling in clinical care. Start by Ask­ing about tobacco use for every patient, noting type, frequency, and exposure. Then Advise quitting with a clear, personalized, and strong recommendation that emphasizes the health benefits for both mother and baby. Next, Assess readiness to quit to tailor the intervention and determine whether the patient is willing to attempt quitting now. If they are, Proceed to Assist with a quit plan: set a quit date if appropriate, offer behavioral strategies, discuss pharmacotherapy options when suitable, and connect the patient with resources such as counseling or quitlines. Finally, Arrange follow-up to monitor progress, address challenges, and adjust the plan as needed. The other options use terms not part of this established sequence, so they don’t align with the proven framework for guiding brief cessation conversations.