Cigarette smoking is a vitally important public health problem. It is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease and one of the leading causes of cancer and respiratory disease. Research in primary care over the last two decades has indicated that smoking cessation interventions in medical settings can be effective. However, there have been few published reports of research examining the effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions in hospital settings. In-patient smoking cessation interventions can potentially reach a large number of smokers. A hospital stay can also be an effective "teachable moment" for smoking cessation advice. Smoking bans in place in hospitals make it a time of enforced abstinence and therefore, an opportunity to overcome the symptoms of physical addiction. Patients are removed from their usual environmental cues for smoking, making initial cessation easier, and they might be particularly receptive to preventive health messages at a time of ill-health. Finally, there is increased access to health care providers whom patients see as valid and knowledgeable sources of health information.