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Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2001;155:857-858.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Most families and health care professionals are very much aware of the negative health consequences of secondhand smoke. It is equally well known that significant numbers of children are exposed to this environmental hazard despite its widely known effects. The article by Perez-Stable et al¹ is an intriguing effort to compare pediatricians and family physicians in terms of their counseling and incorporation of the major components of the program designed by the National Cancer Institute. Their conclusion in part states that education in smoking cessation counseling is needed for pediatricians and that data exist to support such a program for physicians in general. Its conclusion, however, raises several fundamental issues not resolved in the study. The authors contend that pediatricians are far less likely than family practitioners to prescribe nicotine replacement therapy, schedule follow-up visits, and set "quit dates" for parents. These data ignore fundamental differences between the specialties. The . . . [Full Text of this Article]