Nursing intervention and smoking cessation: meta-analysis update

Spotlight on nurses' smoking prevalence and addiction in Istanbul, Türkiye, the leading country in the implementation of WHO MPOWER policies

OBJECTIVE

Türkiye is the leading country that has been applying the MPOWER criteria of the World Health Organization for years. However, the prevalence of smoking among nurses appears to be high, according to the literature. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence, addiction levels, and dynamics of tobacco smoking among nurses in Türkiye.

METHOD

In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a questionnaire (prepared in cooperation with the "World Health Organization") and the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence were administered to 529 nurses working at a tertiary-care university hospital in 2020. Logistic regression was performed to determine factors predicting smoking.

RESULTS

The prevalence of smoking among nurses was 32.7% (n = 173). The mean Fagerström test score indicated a "low dependence" level (score: 3 ± 2.6). Both results were higher for males. A relationship was found between trying smoking cigarette and hookah. Of the "current smokers" group, 102 (60.4%) stated that they wanted to quit smoking. Only 21 (27.6%) of the nurses who have tried to quit smoking thus far have received professional help.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of smoking among nurses working at a tertiary-care university hospital was relatively low compared to that among nurses in Türkiye. While females are normally expected to smoke less, the high prevalence of smoking among nurses (most of them female) raises the question of the professional basis of this situation. However, the low rate of receiving professional help reveals the lack of promotion and accessibility of smoking cessation outpatient clinics in the faculty environment. Finally, the perception that hookah is an alternative tobacco product leads to cigarette smoking. The good news was that nurses had a low dependency rate.

Non-pharmacological interventions for smoking cessation: analysis of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

BACKGROUND

Although non-pharmacological smoking cessation measures have been widely used among smokers, current research evidence on the effects of smoking cessation is inconsistent and of mixed quality. Moreover, there is a lack of comprehensive evidence synthesis. This study seeks to systematically identify, describe, and evaluate the available evidence for non-pharmacological interventions in smoking populations through evidence mapping (EM), and to search for best-practice smoking cessation programs.

METHODS

A comprehensive search for relevant studies published from the establishment of the library to January 8, 2023, was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, CBM, Wan Fang, and VIP. Two authors independently assessed eligibility and extracted data. The PRISMA statement and AMSTAR 2 tool were used to evaluate the report quality and methodology quality of systematic reviews/meta-analyses (SRs/MAs), respectively. Bubble plots were utilized to display information, such as the study population, intervention type, evidence quality, and original study sample size.

RESULTS

A total of 145 SRs/MAs regarding non-pharmacological interventions for smoking cessation were investigated, with 20 types of interventions identified. The most commonly used interventions were cognitive behaviour education (n = 32, 22.07%), professional counselling (n = 20, 13.79%), and non-nicotine electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) (n = 13, 8.97%). Among them, counselling and behavioural support can improve smoking cessation rates, but the effect varies depending on the characteristics of the support provided. These findings are consistent with previous SRs/MAs. The general population (n = 108, 74.48%) was the main cohort included in the SRs/MAs. The total score of PRISMA for the quality of the reports ranged from 8 to 27, and 13 studies (8.97%) were rated as high confidence, and nine studies (6.21%) as moderate confidence, in the AMSTAR 2 confidence rating.

CONCLUSIONS

The abstinence effect of cognitive behaviour education and money incentive intervention has advantages, and non-nicotine e-cigarettes appear to help some smokers transition to less harmful replacement tools. However, the methodological shortcomings of SRs/MAs should be considered. Therefore, to better guide future practice in the field of non-pharmacological smoking cessation, it is essential to improve the methodological quality of SRs and carry out high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Utilization of the Youth Quitline as an opportunity for an undergraduate nursing students to deliver smoking cessation counseling as their clinical placement: An implementation of a service-learning model

BACKGROUND

Smoking is an important modifiable risk factor of morbidities and mortality. Although healthcare professionals play an important role in smoking cessation, their adoption of such practices is relatively low because of inadequate training. To address this issue, we incorporated a service-learning model to operate the Youth Quitline. Undergraduate nursing students were trained and received supervision while delivering smoking cessation counseling through the Youth Quitline as their clinical placement.

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated the effectiveness of the placement by assessing students' knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding smoking cessation and tobacco control.

DESIGN

One-group pretest-posttest design.

SETTING

Youth Quitline.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 61 third-year students in a mental health nursing program.

METHODS

Students were required to complete 80 h at the Youth Quitline. The 80 h were divided into 20 sessions; students used four sessions to approach and recruit youth smokers in the community, then provided them with telephone counseling for the rest of the time. Prior to the placement, students attended a 2-day workshop. The outcomes were changes in students' knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding smoking cessation and tobacco control 3 months after the placement compared with baseline.

RESULTS

From January-June 2021, students conducted 105 outreach activities to identify 3142 smokers in the community, and provided telephone counseling for 336 smokers via Youth Quitline. Compared with baseline, significant improvements were observed in students' knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding smoking cessation and tobacco control at 3-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical placement improved students' knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding smoking cessation and tobacco control, enhancing their competency in providing support to assist smokers to quit in their future practice. Incorporating the service-learning model in existing community-based services can provide additional venues for nursing students to practice. This is particularly important because many venues have restricted access during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Health in North China From 2006 to 2011: Results From the KaiLuan Study

Background: The American Heart Association (AHA) defined cardiovascular health in terms of four behaviors (smoking, diet, physical activity, body weight) and three factors (plasma glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure). By this definition, the prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health behaviors and factors is negatively correlated with all-cause mortality and risks of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and malignancy. We analyzed the trends in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health behaviors and factors in the population of the KaiLuan study for 2006–2011, reported the results, and provided evidence for prevention.

Methods and Results: We calculated the prevalence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health behaviors and factors from KaiLuan data for 2006–2007, 2008–2009, and 2010–2011. The prevalence of ideal cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health behaviors and factors is low in the KaiLuan population.

Conclusions: The prevalence of ideal cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health behaviors and factors is low in the KaiLuan population.

Clinical Trial Registration:http://www.chictr.org/cn/proj/show.aspx?proj=1441, unique identifier: ChiCTR-TNC-11001489.

Prevalence of smoking in nursing students worldwide: A meta-analysis of observational studies

BACKGROUND

Smoking is common among nursing students worldwide, but the reported prevalence is inconsistent across epidemiological studies. This is a meta-analysis of the prevalence of smoking in nursing students worldwide.

DESIGN

Meta-analysis of observational studies.

SAMPLE

A total of 46 studies were included in this meta-analysis.

METHOD

Electronic databases (PubMed, Medline, PsycINFO, EMBASE and Web of science) were independently and systematically searched by two investigators from their commencement date up to 12 May 2018. Studies that reported the smoking rate of nursing students were included and analyzed using random-effects model.

RESULTS

The pooled prevalence of current smoking was 26.6% (95% CI: 22.9-30.4%), while pooled prevalence of previous smoking was 15.5% (95% CI: 11.8-19.3%). Subgroup analyses showed that smoking rate was higher in male compared with female students (39% vs 25.2%, P < .001), while survey time, sample size, age, study design and academic year did not moderate the smoking rate (all P > .05).

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis confirmed that smoking is common in nursing students. Considering the negative impact of smoking on health, appropriate smoking cessation measures for nursing students should be developed.

Risk factors for nicotine dependence in Chinese patients with lung cancer

Objective

Smoking is a poor prognostic factor for lung cancer. Nicotine dependence remains the major cause of failure of smoking cessation. We investigated the risk factors for nicotine dependence in patients with lung cancer.

Methods

Eligible patients were identified from November 2014 to February 2015. Age, marital status, educational level, annual household income, occupation, histology of lung cancer, tumor stage, smoking status, neuron-specific enolase (NSE) level, drive gene mutations, sleep quality, and patient personality were assessed. Physical nicotine dependence was assessed by the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND).

Results

In total, 202 smokers were included in this study. Univariate analysis showed that marital status and pain were significantly correlated with nicotine dependence. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that age at the initiation of smoking, attempts to quit, NSE level, and sleep quality were significantly correlated with FTND scores.

Conclusions

Pain, more attempts to quit, and poorer sleep quality were significantly associated with nicotine dependence. These risk factors could help to prevent smoking in Chinese patients with lung cancer.

Nursing interventions for smoking cessation

BACKGROUND

Healthcare professionals, including nurses, frequently advise people to improve their health by stopping smoking. Such advice may be brief, or part of more intensive interventions.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the effectiveness of nursing-delivered smoking cessation interventions in adults. To establish whether nursing-delivered smoking cessation interventions are more effective than no intervention; are more effective if the intervention is more intensive; differ in effectiveness with health state and setting of the participants; are more effective if they include follow-ups; are more effective if they include aids that demonstrate the pathophysiological effect of smoking.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group Specialized Register and CINAHL in January 2017.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomized trials of smoking cessation interventions delivered by nurses or health visitors with follow-up of at least six months.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors extracted data independently. The main outcome measure was abstinence from smoking after at least six months of follow-up. We used the most rigorous definition of abstinence for each trial, and biochemically-validated rates if available. Where statistically and clinically appropriate, we pooled studies using a Mantel-Haenszel fixed-effect model and reported the outcome as a risk ratio (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI).

MAIN RESULTS

Fifty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria, nine of which are new for this update. Pooling 44 studies (over 20,000 participants) comparing a nursing intervention to a control or to usual care, we found the intervention increased the likelihood of quitting (RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.38); however, statistical heterogeneity was moderate (I² = 50%) and not explained by subgroup analysis. Because of this, we judged the quality of evidence to be moderate. Despite most studies being at unclear risk of bias in at least one domain, we did not downgrade the quality of evidence further, as restricting the main analysis to only those studies at low risk of bias did not significantly alter the effect estimate. Subgroup analyses found no evidence that high-intensity interventions, interventions with additional follow-up or interventions including aids that demonstrate the pathophysiological effect of smoking are more effective than lower intensity interventions, or interventions without additional follow-up or aids. There was no evidence that the effect of support differed by patient group or across healthcare settings.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is moderate quality evidence that behavioural support to motivate and sustain smoking cessation delivered by nurses can lead to a modest increase in the number of people who achieve prolonged abstinence. There is insufficient evidence to assess whether more intensive interventions, those incorporating additional follow-up, or those incorporating pathophysiological feedback are more effective than one-off support. There was no evidence that the effect of support differed by patient group or across healthcare settings.

Chinese women health ambassadors programme: A process evaluation

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess a community-women health ambassadors programme and report the areas that were successful and those that required improvement. The objectives were to assess the feasibility, effectiveness, implementation and sustainability of the programme.

BACKGROUND

Health promotion for the prevention of chronic diseases has always been the top priority in the health sector. To ensure that the relevant health messages are well received in local communities, a health promotion programme must be accessible, acceptable and culturally relevant.

DESIGN

We conducted and evaluated a women health ambassador programme based on the lay health advisor model for health promotion in Hong Kong during November 2014 to February 2015. Health needs and the subsequent focus of the programme were determined by underprivileged Chinese women.

METHODS

University health educators from different disciplines trained the women (N = 80) to be health ambassadors through mini-lectures and training workshops. The trained women raised awareness about the importance of health within their families and social networks. The programme was evaluated through attendance rates, questionnaires and quizzes, changes in knowledge and behaviour, as well as qualitative discussion.

RESULTS

While the majority of participants found the programme valuable and useful, retention rates were unideal. A statistically significant improvement was found in eating habits, but no significant change was identified for other knowledge and behaviour assessments.

CONCLUSIONS

The programme empowered underprivileged women to reflect on the importance of health, take responsibility for their own health and actively promote health to their families and personal communities.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Our study supports that health promotion programmes based on the lay health advisor model are effective and encourage large-scale programmes of this nature. Our results also support that future health promotion efforts should deliver brief, clear and simple content as opposed to intricate information.

Economic evaluation of a telephone- and face-to-face-delivered counseling intervention for smoking cessation in patients with coronary heart disease

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of two smoking cessation counseling interventions differing in their modality for patients diagnosed with coronary heart disease from a societal perspective.

METHODS

In a randomized controlled trial conducted in Dutch hospital wards, cardiac patients who smoked prior to admission were allocated to usual care (n = 245), telephone counseling (n = 223) or face-to-face counseling (n = 157). The counseling interventions lasted for 3 months and were complemented by nicotine patches. Baseline histories were obtained, and interviews took place 6 months after hospitalization to assess self-reported smoking status and quality adjusted life years (QALYs). Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios per quitter and cost-utility ratios per QALY were calculated and presented in acceptability curves. Uncertainty was accounted for by sensitivity analysis.

RESULTS

Using continued abstinence as the outcome measure showed that telephone counseling had the highest probability of being cost-effective. Face-to-to-face counseling was also more cost-effective than usual care. No significant improvements and differences in QALYs between the three conditions were found. Varying costs and effect estimations revealed that the results of the primary analyses were robust.

CONCLUSIONS

Assuming a willingness-to-pay of €20,000 per abstinent patient, telephone counseling would be a highly cost-effective smoking cessation intervention assisting cardiac patients to quit. However, the lack of consensus concerning the willingness-to-pay per quitter impedes drawing firm conclusions. Moreover, studies with extended follow-up periods are needed to capture late relapses and possible differences in QALYs.

Facilitators and barriers to effective smoking cessation: counselling services for inpatients from nurse-counsellors' perspectives--a qualitative study

Tobacco use has reached epidemic levels around the World, resulting in a world-wide increase in tobacco-related deaths and disabilities. Hospitalization presents an opportunity for nurses to encourage inpatients to quit smoking. This qualitative descriptive study was aimed to explore nurse-counsellors' perspectives of facilitators and barriers in the implementation of effective smoking cessation counselling services for inpatients. In-depth interviews were conducted with 16 nurses who were qualified smoking cessation counsellors and who were recruited from eleven health promotion hospitals that were smoke-free and located in the Greater Taipei City Area.  Data were collected from May 2012 to October 2012, and then analysed using content analysis based on the grounded theory approach. From nurse-counsellors' perspectives, an effective smoking cessation program should be patient-centred and provide a supportive environment. Another finding is that effective smoking cessation counselling involves encouraging patients to modify their lifestyles. Time constraints and inadequate resources are barriers that inhibit the effectiveness of smoking cessation counselling programs in acute-care hospitals. We suggest that hospitals should set up a smoking counselling follow-up program, including funds, facilities, and trained personnel to deliver counselling services by telephone, and build a network with community smoking cessation resources.

EPA Guidance on Tobacco Dependence and Strategies for Smoking Cessation in People with Mental Illness

Tobacco dependence is the most common substance use disorder in adults with mental illness. The prevalence rates for tobacco dependence are two to four times higher in these patients than in the general population. Smoking has a strong, negative influence on the life expectancy and quality of life of mental health patients, and remains the leading preventable cause of death in this group. Despite these statistics, in some countries smokers with mental illness are disadvantaged in receiving intervention and support for their tobacco dependence, which is often overlooked or even tolerated. This statement from the European Psychiatric Association (EPA) systematically reviews the current evidence on tobacco dependence and withdrawal in patients with mental illness and their treatment. It provides seven recommendations for the core components of diagnostics and treatment in this patient group. These recommendations concern: (1) the recording process, (2) the timing of the intervention, (3) counselling specificities, (4) proposed treatments, (5) frequency of contact after stopping, (6) follow-up visits and (7) relapse prevention. They aim to help clinicians improve the care, health and well-being of patients suffering from mental illness.

Using meta-analyses for comparative effectiveness research

Comparative effectiveness research seeks to identify the most effective interventions for particular patient populations. Meta-analysis is an especially valuable form of comparative effectiveness research because it emphasizes the magnitude of intervention effects rather than relying on tests of statistical significance among primary studies. Overall effects can be calculated for diverse clinical and patient-centered variables to determine the outcome patterns. Moderator analyses compare intervention characteristics among primary studies by determining whether effect sizes vary among studies with different intervention characteristics. Intervention effectiveness can be linked to patient characteristics to provide evidence for patient-centered care. Moderator analyses often answer questions never posed by primary studies because neither multiple intervention characteristics nor populations are compared in single primary studies. Thus, meta-analyses provide unique contributions to knowledge. Although meta-analysis is a powerful comparative effectiveness strategy, methodological challenges and limitations in primary research must be acknowledged to interpret findings.

Effectiveness of two intensive treatment methods for smoking cessation and relapse prevention in patients with coronary heart disease: study protocol and baseline description

BACKGROUND

There is no more effective intervention for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease than smoking cessation. Yet, evidence about the (cost-)effectiveness of smoking cessation treatment methods for cardiac inpatients that also suit nursing practice is scarce. This protocol describes the design of a study on the (cost-)effectiveness of two intensive smoking cessation interventions for hospitalised cardiac patients as well as first results on the inclusion rates and the characteristics of the study population.

METHODS/DESIGN

An experimental study design is used in eight cardiac wards of hospitals throughout the Netherlands to assess the (cost-)effectiveness of two intensive smoking cessation counselling methods both combined with nicotine replacement therapy. Randomization is conducted at the ward level (cross-over). Baseline and follow-up measurements after six and 12 months are obtained. Upon admission to the cardiac ward, nurses assess patients' smoking behaviour, ensure a quit advice and subsequently refer patients for either telephone counselling or face-to-face counselling. The counselling interventions have a comparable structure and content but differ in provider and delivery method, and in duration. Both counselling interventions are compared with a control group receiving no additional treatment beyond the usual care. Between December 2009 and June 2011, 245 cardiac patients who smoked prior to hospitalisation were included in the usual care group, 223 in the telephone counselling group and 157 in the face-to-face counselling group. Patients are predominantly male and have a mean age of 57 years. Acute coronary syndrome is the most frequently reported admission diagnosis. The ultimate goal of the study is to assess the effects of the interventions on smoking abstinence and their cost-effectiveness. Telephone counselling is expected to be more (cost-)effective in highly motivated patients and patients with high SES, whereas face-to-face counselling is expected to be more (cost-)effective in less motivated patients and patients with low SES.

DISCUSSION

This study examines two intensive smoking cessation interventions for cardiac patients using a multi-centre trial with eight cardiac wards. Although not all eligible patients could be included and the distribution of patients is skewed in the different groups, the results will be able to provide valuable insight into effects and costs of counselling interventions varying in delivery mode and intensity, also concerning subgroups.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Dutch Trial Register NTR2144.

Risk groups and predictors of short-term abstinence from smoking in patients with coronary heart disease

OBJECTIVES

We sought to identify risk groups among smoking cardiac patients from their social cognitive profiles, and to assess predictors of smoking abstinence shortly after discharge.

METHODS

Smoking cardiac patients (n = 133) completed questionnaires at hospital admission and 1 month after discharge. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to detect risk groups of smokers, based on baseline scores for smoking-related social cognitions. Regression analyses were used to identify predictors of the intention to abstain from smoking and smoking abstinence 1 month after discharge.

RESULTS

Three groups of smokers were distinguished that differed significantly on the pros of nonsmoking, self-efficacy expectancies toward nonsmoking, social support, social modeling, and smoking behavior. Abstinence from smoking 1 month after discharge was predicted by group membership and a stronger intention to quit. A previous hospital admission because of a cardiac event significantly decreased the likelihood of abstinence.

CONCLUSIONS

One third of cardiac patients are at high risk of continuing smoking after hospital discharge because of an unfavorable smoking and disease history and a poor social cognitive profile. Interventions for cardiac patients should address risk profiles to achieve long-term abstinence. The implications of nursing practices in smoking cessation treatments are discussed.

Changing practitioner behavior and building capacity in tobacco cessation treatment: the TEACH project

OBJECTIVE

To facilitate interprofessional knowledge transfer to practice by increasing treatment capacity of health care practitioners to deliver evidence-informed smoking cessation counseling.

METHODS

TEACH (Training Enhancement in Applied Cessation Counseling and Health) combines diffusion of innovations with principles of adult learning to address the lack of system capacity to implement evidence-based smoking cessation treatments. Participants were professionals from 15 disciplines with commitment from their supervisor to implement the intervention. Pre- and post-training course evaluation surveys assessed the extent to which learning objectives were achieved and guided a continuous quality improvement process.

RESULTS

Evaluation of 741 participants that attended the three-day Core Course from June 2007 to January 2009 revealed significant increases in pre- to post-training ratings of feasibility, importance, and confidence in using the intervention. In addition to attitudinal changes, practitioners made changes to practice behavior. At six months post-training, 55% of professionals were implementing the intervention and 91% engaged in knowledge transfer activities in their organizations/communities.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that TEACH impacted clinical practice and may serve as a model for knowledge translation initiatives in other health behavior domains.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

These data demonstrate that it is feasible to operationalize interprofessional knowledge translation models to transfer research findings into practice.

Perceptions and practices of Japanese nurses regarding tobacco intervention for cancer patients

Background

We investigated the perceptions and practices regarding tobacco intervention among nurses, as improvement of such practices is important for the management of patients who smoke.

Methods

Self-administered questionnaires were delivered by hospital administrative sections for nursing staff to 2676 nurses who were working in 3 cancer hospitals and 3 general hospitals. Of these, 2215 (82.8%) responded.

Results

Most nurses strongly agreed that cancer patients who had preoperative or early-clinical-stage cancer but continued to smoke should be offered a tobacco use intervention. In contrast, they felt less need to provide tobacco use intervention to patients with incurable cancer who smoked. Most nurses felt that although they assessed and documented the tobacco status of cancer patients, they were not successful in providing cessation advice, assessing patient readiness to quit, and providing individualized information on the harmful effects of tobacco use. In multivariate analysis, nurses who received instruction on smoking cessation programs during nursing school were more likely to give cessation advice (odds ratio, 1.61; 95% confidence interval, 1.15–2.26), assess readiness to quit (1.73, 1.09–2.75), and offer individualized explanations of the harmful effects of tobacco (1.94, 1.39–2.69), as compared with nurses who had not received such instruction.

Conclusions

The perceptions of Japanese nurses regarding tobacco intervention for cancer patients differed greatly by patient treatment status and prognosis. The findings highlight the importance of offering appropriate instruction on smoking cessation to students in nursing schools in Japan.

How to promote healthy behaviours in patients? An overview of evidence for behaviour change techniques

To identify the evidence for the effectiveness of behaviour change techniques, when used by health-care professionals, in accomplishing health-promoting behaviours in patients. Reviews were used to extract data at a study level. A taxonomy was used to classify behaviour change techniques. We included 23 systematic reviews: 14 on smoking cessation, 6 on physical exercise, and 2 on healthy diets and 1 on both exercise and diets. None of the behaviour change techniques demonstrated clear effects in a convincing majority of the studies in which they were evaluated. Techniques targeting knowledge (n = 210 studies) and facilitation of behaviour (n = 172) were evaluated most frequently. However, self-monitoring of behaviour (positive effects in 56% of the studies), risk communication (52%) and use of social support (50%) were most often identified as effective. Insufficient insight into appropriateness of technique choice and quality of technique delivery hinder precise conclusions. Relatively, however, self-monitoring of behaviour, risk communication and use of social support are most effective. Health professionals should avoid thinking that providing knowledge, materials and professional support will be sufficient for patients to accomplish change and consider alternative strategies which may be more effective.

National survey of U.S. health professionals' smoking prevalence, cessation practices, and beliefs

BACKGROUND

Tobacco dependence treatment efforts have focused on primary care physicians (PCPs), but evidence suggests that they are insufficient to help most smokers quit. Other health professionals also frequently encounter smokers, but their smoking prevalence, cessation practices, and beliefs are less well known.

METHODS

The study included 2,804 subjects from seven health professional groups: PCPs, emergency medicine physicians, psychiatrists, registered nurses, dentists, dental hygienists, and pharmacists. Outcomes included self-reported smoking status, smoking cessation practices, and beliefs. Multivariate regression was used to examine factors associated with health professionals (except pharmacists) self-reportedly performing the "5 A's": asking, advising, assessing, assisting, or arranging follow-up about tobacco.

RESULTS

Health professionals have a low smoking prevalence (<6%), except nurses (13%). Many health professionals report asking (87.3%-99.5%) and advising (65.6%-94.9%) about smoking but much less assessing smokers' interest (38.7%-84.8%), assisting (16.4%-63.7%), and arranging follow-up (1.3%-23.1%). Controlling for health professional and practice demographics, factors positively associated in the multivariate analyses with self-reportedly performing multiple components of the 5 A's include awareness of the Public Health Service guidelines, having had cessation training, and believing that treatment was an important professional responsibility. Negative associations include the health professional being a current smoker, not being a PCP, being uncomfortable asking patients if they smoke, believing counseling was not an appropriate service, and reporting competing priorities.

CONCLUSION

U.S. health professionals report not fully performing the 5 A's. The common barriers and facilitators identified may help inform strategies for increasing the involvement of all health professionals in conducting tobacco dependence treatments.

Promoting tobacco dependence treatment in nursing education

ISSUES

There are 17.3 million nurses worldwide, the largest group of health-care professionals, and they have great potential to address the epidemic of tobacco use and its related morbidity and mortality. However, the evidence indicates that the educational preparation of nurses for tobacco control remains inadequate.

APPROACH

This paper provides an overview of the efficacy of nurses in the delivery of smoking cessation interventions, existing tobacco control content in nursing educational programs, model curricula, teaching resources and strategies for reducing barriers to curricular change.

KEY FINDINGS

Despite the efficacy of nursing intervention for tobacco cessation, lack of appropriate knowledge and/or skill presents a major problem for implementation. An important factor fostering this lack of preparation is limited tobacco control content in current nursing educational programs. Barriers to enhancing and building this curricula include lack of preparation of educators, low priority for this content in an already overloaded curricula, negative attitudes, continued smoking by nursing students and/or faculty and lack of tested curricula. The availability of new tobacco control resources, including those specifically tailored for nurses can assist educators in teaching this content and nurses in implementing interventions.

IMPLICATIONS

Research and changes in policy are needed to ensure that nursing education includes essential content on tobacco control.

CONCLUSION

Nurses can be effective in delivering tobacco cessation interventions. Efforts are needed to promote curriculum that ensures that all nursing students and practicing nurses receive tobacco control content and are competent in the delivery of interventions; and to disseminate resources to nursing educators

Cross-sectional analysis of hospitalist prevalence and quality of care in California

BACKGROUND

Hospital leaders usually provide financial support to hospitalists groups, often with an expectation of improved performance on publicly reported quality metrics. Whether the presence of hospitalists is associated with differences in hospital-level performance is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

Assess the relationship between hospitalist prevalence and quality performance.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 208 California hospitals participating in a voluntary reporting initiative.

INTERVENTION

Survey of hospital personnel with knowledge of the utilization of hospitalists for patient care.

MEASUREMENTS

Sixteen publicly reported quality process measures across 3 medical conditions: acute myocardial infarction (AMI); congestive heart failure (CHF); and pneumonia. Using multivariable models, we assessed the relationship between the presence of hospitalists and the percentage of missed quality opportunities for each process measure.

RESULTS

Of 208 eligible hospitals, 170 (82%) had hospitalist services. After adjustment, hospitals with hospitalists had similar performance for cardiac and pneumonia measures assessed at admission and fewer missed processes for CHF measures assessed at discharge. Among sites with hospitalists, every 10% increase in the estimated percentage of patients admitted by hospitalists was associated with 0.5% fewer (P < 0.001) missed quality opportunities for AMI at admission, and 0.6% (P < 0.001), 0.5% (P = 0.004), and 1.5% (P = 0.006) fewer missed quality opportunities for AMI, CHF, and pneumonia assessed at discharge, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of hospitalists in California was associated with modest improvements in performance on publicly reported process measures. Whether hospitalists directly improve quality or simply reflect a hospital's level of investment in quality remains a subject for future study.

How confident should we be that smoking cessation treatments work?

AIM

To determine (i) the concordance among recent meta-analyses about which treatments for smoking cessation are efficacious; (ii) the similarity of odds ratios (ORs) across meta-analyses; and (iii) among the validated treatments, the proportion of studies that found higher quit rates.

METHODS

Computerized literature search for meta-analyses during the last 5 years in PubMed and PsychInfo. Data were extracted from summary tables of overall effect of validated treatments.

RESULTS

Fourteen meta-analyses agreed 100% on the presence/absence of efficacy of 17 proven treatments. The ORs differed by <0.5 in 72/76 of the comparisons of meta-analyses. Among 37 comparisons in 33 comparisons, >85% of the studies reported numerical superiority for the active treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The efficacy of treatments for smoking cessation are extremely reliable. This argues for inclusion of treatment as an essential feature of tobacco control and clinical practice and argues for reimbursement of smoking cessation treatments on a par with other medical and behavioral disorders.

A comparison of stroke risk factors in women with and without disabling conditions

Many adults with disabilities reside in the United States, but whether women with and without disabling conditions differ in terms of stroke risk factors and treatment response is unknown. This descriptive study was designed to determine whether women with and without disabling conditions have different demographic characteristics, self-reported rates of stroke risk factors, and blood pressure readings on the day of screening. Data were collected at a variety of conferences and meetings convened to address health care for women and people with disabilities. Among the 204 participants, 62% (n = 126) had a disabling condition and 38% (n = 78) had no disability. The primary instrument used to measure the differences among women with and without disabling conditions in this study was the Stroke Risk Screening tool. Women with disabling conditions were less likely to have health insurance (85% versus 95% of women without disabling conditions). Women with disabling conditions also were less likely to see their healthcare providers during the previous year (85% versus 96%). One stroke risk factor differed significantly (p < .05) for subjects who had disabling conditions: history of transient ischemic attack (TIA). Just 2.6% of those without disabling conditions had a TIA history, versus 9.5% of those with disabling conditions. Rehabilitation nurses need to focus on early assessment for stroke risk factors and appropriate interventions, particularly for women who have a history of TIAs.

Tobacco intervention training in graduate psychiatric nursing education programs

BACKGROUND

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death, with the highest rate of cigarette smoking seen in mentally ill people.

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed the content, amount of time, and educational techniques used in tobacco education training for graduate psychiatric nurses.

STUDY DESIGN

A national mail survey of all graduate psychiatric nursing education programs.

RESULTS

One-third of programs offered detailed (>1 hr) information on stages of change, the 5 A's and 5 R's. The majority of basic science tobacco topics were not covered or were covered briefly, and the 6 sociopolitical topics were not covered by the majority of programs. Training was by the traditional didactic method using scientific literature reviews.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence of the need to improve the education of psychiatric nurses as tobacco interventionists at both the individual level and the legislative and policy formulation level. J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc, 2008; 14(2), 117-124. DOI: 10.1177/1078390307311973.

Tobacco intervention attitudes and practices among certified registered nurse anesthetists

BACKGROUND

The period before surgery represents an opportunity for perioperative nurses, including certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), to address the tobacco use of their patients.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the current practices and attitudes of CRNAs toward tobacco interventions.

METHODS

A survey assessing current attitudes, practices and beliefs, and respondent demographics was mailed to 1,000 practicing CRNAs randomly selected from the membership of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, with one follow-up reminder. Summary statistics of survey responses were prepared.

RESULTS

The response rate was 44% (N = 439). Almost all respondents (92%) reported routinely asking their patients if they smoke cigarettes, and the majority felt that it was their responsibility to advise their patients to quit smoking. However, most do not routinely do so. Identified barriers to intervention included a lack of time to intervene and a lack of training. Interest in learning more about tobacco interventions was high, with strong majorities willing to take an extra 5 minutes preoperatively to intervene and to refer patients to other intervention services.

DISCUSSION

These results can inform efforts to promote tobacco use interventions in surgical patients by CRNAs. Increasing the frequency and effectiveness of tobacco use interventions provided by CRNAs would benefit not only immediate perioperative outcomes, but also the long-term health of surgical patients who take advantage of the surgical episode to initiate long-term tobacco abstinence.

Helping hospital patients quit: what the evidence supports and what guidelines recommend

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to critically appraise the extent and strength of systematic review evidence for, and guideline recommendations regarding hospital smoking cessation interventions.

METHODS

Systematic reviews of smoking cessation interventions were identified via an electronic search of the Cochrane Library. Meta-analyses from Cochrane reviews were categorised as those that incorporated only studies of hospital based interventions, and those which incorporated interventions which were not hospital based. Smoking cessation guidelines for hospital health professionals were identified via a search of the World Wide Web.

RESULTS

The review found that evidence from meta-analyses restricted to hospital studies was insufficient to evaluate a number of specific intervention strategies and at times conflicted with the findings of meta-analyses without such restrictions. The majority of guidelines recommended the provision of brief advice, counseling, nicotine replacement therapy despite the absence of clear supporting evidence.

CONCLUSIONS

Further hospital-based research addressing specific cessation strategies is required. Furthermore, smoking cessation guidelines for hospital based health professionals should more specifically reflect evidence from this setting.

Does additional support by nurses enhance the effect of a brief smoking cessation intervention in people with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease? A randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Smoking cessation is the primary disease modifying intervention for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

SETTING

A Regional Respiratory Centre (RRC) out-patient department in Northern Ireland.

METHODS

A randomised controlled trial (RCT) evaluated the effectiveness of brief advice alone or accompanied by individual nurse support or group support facilitated by nurses. Smoking status was biochemically validated and stage of change, nicotine addiction and dyspnoea were recorded at 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months.

PARTICIPANTS

Ninety-one cigarette smokers with COPD were enrolled in the study (mean age 61 years, 47 female).

RESULTS

After 12 months cessation rates were not significantly different between groups (p=0.7), but all groups had a significant reduction in their nicotine addiction (p=0.03-0.006). No changes in subjects' motivation or dyspnoea were detected over the 12 months.

CONCLUSION

Patients with COPD were unable to stop smoking regardless of the type of support they received. Harm reduction may be a more appropriate goal than complete cessation for intractable smokers and nurses must evaluate their role in this arena.