Background: The majority of the population is positive towards doctors' giving advice on smoking cessation. This study examined whether there is a difference in attitudes between people taking part in an active treatment process and those belonging to the »healthy« general population, i.e., whether the situation of being a patient affects attitudes towards doctors' work in connection with smoking cessation interventions. Materials and methods: 238 patients from three outpatient clinics at Bispebjerg Hospital filled in a self-administered questionnaire. Of a matched general population cohort extracted from the Copenhagen central national register, 440 people returned the questionnaire. The questionnaire contained six questions concerning attitude and was prepared on the basis of the content of motivational interviewing. Results: 56-84% of the patients and 67-89% of the general population questioned were positive towards doctors' asking about smoking status, giving advice on smoking cessation and information about smoking related symptoms, and providing nicotine substitution therapy as well as referral to smoking cessation groups. There was no significant difference between the patient group and the general population as regarded smoking status, advice on smoking cessation or knowledge about nicotine substitution therapy. Discussion: In general, both patients and the general population are positive towards doctors acting as health intermediaries within the area of tobacco cessation. Being a patient does not appear to have any significant effect on this attitude.