Addressing tobacco use through organizational change: a case study of an addiction treatment organization

Feasibility of an Open Dialogue-Inspired Approach for Young Adults with Psychosis in a Public Hospital System

The objective was to determine the feasibility of an Open Dialogue-inspired approach in a metropolitan, public hospital setting with predominately African American participants. Participants were ages 18-35, experienced psychosis within the past month, and involved at least one support person in their care. We evaluated domains of feasibility including implementation, adaptation, practicality, acceptability, and limited-efficacy. An organizational change model (Addressing Problems Through Organizational Change) facilitated implementation. Clinicians received three trainings and ongoing supervision. Network meetings were successfully implemented with good self-reported fidelity to principles of dialogic practice. Some adaptations (less frequent meetings and no home visits) were necessary. A subset of individuals completed research assessments over 12 months. Qualitative interviews with participants suggested the intervention was acceptable. Symptom and functional outcomes were preliminary but trended toward improvement. Implementation was feasible with relatively brief training, organizational change processes, and context-specific adaptations. Lessons learned can assist in planning a larger research study.

Exploring the barriers and facilitators to the uptake of smoking cessation services for people in treatment or recovery from problematic drug or alcohol use: A qualitative systematic review

BACKGROUND

Smoking prevalence and the associated poor health and mortality is significantly higher among people with/recovering from problematic drug or alcohol (PDA) use in comparison with the general population. Evidence from existing systematic reviews shows smoking cessation enhances rather than compromises long-term abstinence from alcohol or drug use. However, these systematic reviews lack important contextual detail around the reasons why uptake of, and successful engagement with existing stop smoking services remains low for people in treatment or recovery from PDA use. This systematic review explores qualitative data on the barriers and facilitators to the uptake of smoking cessation services for people in treatment or recovery from PDA use. This key objective addresses the limited inclusion of qualitative studies in previous systematic reviews on this issue.

METHODS

A qualitative systematic review was conducted with searches across four electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature [CINAHL]). All studies that had a qualitative component about free smoking cessation/reduction programmes for people in treatment or recovery from PDA use were included. Studies that examined electronic smoking or services that required a fee were excluded. Study quality was assessed using National Institute for Health and Care Excellence checklist. Qualitative synthesis involved inductive thematic analysis. (PROSPERO Registration number: CRD42022298521).

RESULTS

8809 potentially eligible articles were identified, 72 full texts were screened and ten articles were included for full review. Barriers to uptake and engagement with existing stop smoking services centered on three key themes: perception of public health importance, programme structure, and intervention elements. Facilitators included supportive treatment environment and optimization of support/staff resources for smoking cessation service delivery.

CONCLUSION

Recommendations included influencing a change in the way people perceive the importance of smoking cessation activities during PDA use treatment or recovery. There was also some emphasis on the need to create the right environment for sustained adherence to treatment or recovery plans, and deliver the interventions within the health system as comprehensive care. The limited qualitative evidence on community-based and outpatient services highlights a research gap.

A cluster-randomized trial of a brief multi-component intervention to improve tobacco outcomes in substance use treatment

BACKGROUND

Smoking prevalence is high among people in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, and program interventions to address smoking are often complex and lengthy. This cluster-randomized trial tested whether a brief multi-component intervention impacted tobacco outcomes among staff and clients.

METHODS

Seven SUD treatment programs were randomly assigned to the multi-component intervention or to waitlist control. The 6-month intervention included a leadership motivation assessment, program incentives, 4 staff training sessions and a leadership learning community session. Survey data were collected from staff and clients at pre- and post-intervention. Outcomes were first compared across condition (intervention vs waitlist control), and then examined pre- to post-intervention with condition collapsed.

RESULTS

Staff in the intervention (n = 48) and control conditions (n = 26) did not differ at post-intervention on smoking prevalence, self-efficacy to help clients quit, or practices used to help clients quit smoking. Intervention clients (n = 113) did not differ from controls (n = 61) in smoking prevalence or receipt of tobacco services. Pre-post comparisons collapsed across condition showed a decrease in client and staff smoking prevalence, which could not be attributed to the intervention, and a decrease in client receipt of cessation medication.

CONCLUSION

The brief multi-component intervention did not support changes in smoking prevalence or in tobacco-related services received by clients. Other intervention features are needed to reduce smoking among SUD clients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Randomization occurred at the program level and outcomes measured are program-level measures. Accordingly, the trial is not registered.

A randomized clinical trial testing two implementation strategies to promote the treatment of tobacco dependence in community mental healthcare

INTRODUCTION

People with serious mental illness (SMI) are more likely to smoke and less likely to receive tobacco treatment. Implementation strategies may address clinician and organizational barriers to treating tobacco in mental healthcare.

METHODS

A cluster-randomized trial (Clinic N=13, Client N=610, Staff N=222) tested two models to promote tobacco treatment in community mental healthcare: standard didactic training vs. Addressing Tobacco Through Organizational Change (ATTOC), an organizational model that provides clinician and leadership training and addresses system barriers to tobacco treatment. Primary outcomes were changes in tobacco treatment from clients, staff, and medical records. Secondary outcomes were changes in smoking, mental health, and quality of life (QOL), and staff skills and barriers to treat tobacco.

RESULTS

Clients at ATTOC sites reported a significant increase in receiving tobacco treatment from clinician at weeks 12 and 24 (ps<0.05) and tobacco treatments and policies from clinics at weeks 12, 24, 36, and 52 (ps<0.05), vs. standard sites. ATTOC staff reported a significant increase in skills to treat tobacco at week 36 (p=0.05), vs. standard sites. For both models, tobacco use medications, from clients (week 52) and medical records (week 36), increased (ps<0.05), while perceived barriers decreased at weeks 24 and 52 (ps<0.05); 4.3% of clients quit smoking which was not associated with model. QOL and mental health improved over 24 weeks for both models (ps<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Standard training and ATTOC improve use of evidence-based tobacco treatments in community mental healthcare without worsening mental health, but ATTOC may more effectively address this practice gap.

Ethical Dilemmas in Physicians’ Consultations with COPD Patients

Aim

This phenomenological study was aimed at exploring principal physicians’ (participants’) experience of attending to COPD patients and motivating their self-management, in light of the GOLD clinical guidelines of COPD therapy.

Methods

Interviews were conducted with nine physicians, who had referred patients to PR, five general practitioners (GPs) and four lung specialists (LSs). The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed through a process of deconstruction and reconstruction.

Results

The participants experienced several ethical dilemmas in being principal physicians of COPD patients and motivating their self-management; primarily in the balancing act of adhering to the Hippocratic Oath of promoting health and saving lives, while respecting their patients’ choice regarding non-adherence eg, by still smoking. It was also a challenge to deal with COPD as a nicotine addiction disease, deal with patients’ denial regarding the harm of smoking and in motivating patient mastery of the disease. The participants used various strategies to motivate their patients’ self-management such as active patient education, enhancing the patients’ inner motivation, by means of an interdisciplinary approach, involving the patients’ significant other when appropriate, and by proposing PR.

Conclusion

The findings indicate that being a principal physician of COPD patients and motivating their self-management is a balancing act, involving several dilemmas. Patients’ nicotine addiction and physicians’ ethical obligations are likely to create ethical dilemmas as the physician is obligated to respect the patients’ will, even though it contradicts what is best for the patient. The participants suggest strategies to motivate COPD patients’ self-management.

Assessing barriers to providing tobacco use disorder treatment in community mental health settings with a revised version of the Smoking Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (S-KAP) instrument

BACKGROUND

Tobacco use disorder (TUD) rates are 2-3 times higher among people with serious mental illness (SMI) than the general population. Clinicians working in outpatient community mental health clinics are well positioned to provide TUD treatment to this group, but rates of treatment provision are very low. Understanding factors associated with the provision of TUD treatment by mental health clinicians is a priority.

METHODS

This study used baseline data from an ongoing cluster-randomized clinical trial evaluating two approaches to training clinicians to increase TUD treatment. Following a psychometric assessment of our assessment tool, the Smoking Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (S-KAP) instrument, a new factor structure was evaluated utilizing confirmatory factor analysis. Structural equation modeling was then used to examine the associations between TUD treatment practices and clinician, setting, and patient characteristics in a sample of 182 mental health clinicians across 10 mental health clinics.

RESULTS

Clinician but not setting or patient characteristics emerged as significant correlates of providing TUD treatment. Specifically, clinicians' general ethical commitment to providing TUD services and perceptions of their skills in providing this type of care were associated with providing TUD treatment. In contrast, clinician perceptions of patient motivation, anticipated quit rates, or available setting resources were not significantly associated with providing TUD treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Enhancing community mental health clinician TUD treatment skills and commitment to providing such services may reduce TUD rates among people with SMI. Future studies should evaluate interventions that target these factors.

Staff-perceived barriers to nutrition intervention in substance use disorder treatment

OBJECTIVE

While organisational change in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment has been extensively studied, there is no research describing facility-wide changes related to nutrition interventions. This study evaluates staff-perceived barriers to change before and after a wellness initiative.

DESIGN

A pre-intervention questionnaire was administered to participating staff prior to facility-wide changes (n 40). The questions were designed to assess barriers across five domains: (1) provision of nutrition-related treatment; (2) implementation of nutrition education; (3) screening, detecting and monitoring (nutrition behaviours); (4) facility-wide collaboration and (5) menu changes and client satisfaction. A five-point Likert scale was used to indicate the extent to which staff anticipate difficulty or ease in implementing facility-wide nutrition changes, perceived as organisational barriers. Follow-up questionnaires were identical to the pre-test except that it examined barriers experienced, rather than anticipated (n 50).

SETTING

A multisite SUD treatment centre in Northern California which began implementing nutrition programming changes in order to improve care.

PARTICIPANTS

Staff members who consented to participate.

RESULTS

From pre to post, we observed significant decreases in perceived barriers related to the provision of nutrition-related treatment (P = 0·019), facility-wide collaboration (P = 0·036), menu changes and client satisfaction (P = 0·024). Implementation of nutrition education and the domain of screening, detecting and monitoring did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that staff training, food service changes, the use of targeted curriculum for nutrition groups and the encouragement of discussing self-care in individual counselling sessions can lead to positive shifts about nutrition-related organisational change among staff.

Incremental Benefits of Multiple Tobacco Control Interventions: A Factorial Randomized Control Trial

Tobacco control requires a comprehensive approach. The present study aims to examine the incremental effectiveness of health systems intervention when combined with other interventions in enhancing knowledge and practices of physicians in tobacco cessation.

Effect of increasing the delivery of smoking cessation care in alcohol and other drug treatment centres: a cluster-randomized controlled trial

AIM

Aims were to test the effectiveness of an organizational change intervention integrating smoking cessation treatment into usual alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment, compared with usual care, on (1) 7-day point prevalence abstinence (PPA) at 8 weeks follow-up; (2) prolonged abstinence; (3) cigarettes smoked per day; (4) number of quit attempts; and (5) offer and use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). All outcomes were assessed at 8 weeks and 6.5 months follow-up.

DESIGN

Cluster-randomized controlled trial, with AOD service as unit of randomization, conducted January 2015-March 2016.

SETTING

Thirty-two eligible services (provided face-to-face client sessions to ≥ 50 clients/year) in Australia were randomized to control (usual care; n = 15) or intervention (n = 17) groups by an independent blinded biostatistician.

PARTICIPANTS

Eligible participants (≥ 16 years, current smoker) completed surveys at the service at baseline (n = 896) and telephone follow-up surveys (conducted by blinded assessors) at 8 weeks (n = 471; 53%) and 6.5 months (n = 427; 48%).

INTERVENTION

Intervention services received an intervention to establish routine screening, assessment and delivery of smoking cessation care.

MEASUREMENTS

Primary outcome was biochemically verified 7-day PPA at 8-week follow-up. Secondary outcomes included verified and self-reported prolonged abstinence, self-reported 7-day PPA, cigarettes/day, quit attempts and offer and use of NRT. Intention-to-treat analyses were performed, assuming missing participants were not abstinent.

FINDINGS

At 8 weeks, the findings in verified 7-day PPA between groups [2.6 versus 1.8%, odds ratio (OR) = 1.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.5-5.7, P = 0.373] were inconclusive as to whether a difference was present. Significantly lower mean cigarettes/day were reported in the intervention group compared to the usual care group at 8 weeks [incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.8-0.95, P = 0.001] but were similar at 6.5 months (IRR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.9-1.02, P = 0.240) follow-up. At both follow-ups the intervention group reported higher rates of NRT use.

CONCLUSIONS

Integrating smoking cessation treatment into addiction services did not significantly improve short-term abstinence from smoking.

The PRogram In Support of Moms (PRISM): study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial of two active interventions addressing perinatal depression in obstetric settings

BACKGROUND

Perinatal depression, the most common pregnancy complication, is associated with negative maternal-offspring outcomes. Despite existence of effective treatments, it is under-recognized and under-treated. Professional organizations recommend universal screening, yet multi-level barriers exist to ensuring effective diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Integrating mental health and obstetric care holds significant promise for addressing perinatal depression. The overall study goal is to compare the effectiveness of two active interventions: (1) the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program (MCPAP) for Moms, a state-wide, population-based program, and (2) the PRogram In Support of Moms (PRISM) which includes MCPAP for Moms plus a proactive, multifaceted, practice-level intervention with intensive implementation support.

METHODS

This study is conducted in two phases: (1) a run-in phase which has been completed and involved practice and patient participant recruitment to demonstrate feasibility for the second phase, and (2) a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT), which is ongoing, and will compare two active interventions 1:1 with ten Ob/Gyn practices as the unit of randomization. In phase 1, rates of depressive symptoms and other demographic and clinical features among patients were examined to inform practice randomization. Patient participants to be recruited in phase 2 will be followed longitudinally until 13 months postpartum; they will have 3-5 total study visits depending on whether their initial recruitment and interview was at 4-24 or 32-40 weeks gestation, or 1-3 months postpartum. Sampling throughout pregnancy and postpartum will ensure participants with different depressive symptom onset times. Differences in depression symptomatology and treatment participation will be compared between patient participants by intervention arm.

DISCUSSION

This manuscript describes the full two-phase study protocol. The study design is innovative because it combines effectiveness with implementation research designs and integrates critical components of participatory action research. Our approach assesses the feasibility, acceptance, efficacy, and sustainability of integrating a stepped-care approach to perinatal depression care into ambulatory obstetric settings; an approach that is flexible and can be tailored and adapted to fit unique workflows of real-world practices.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02760004, registered prospectively on May 3, 2016.

Integrating Smoking Cessation Care into a Medically Supervised Injecting Facility Using an Organizational Change Intervention: A Qualitative Study of Staff and Client Views

Background: Clients accessing supervised injecting facilities (SIFs) smoke at high rates. An SIF piloted an organizational change intervention to integrate smoking cessation care as routine treatment. This study aims to explore staff acceptability, perceived facilitators, and perceived barriers to implementing six core components of an organizational change intervention to integrate smoking cessation care in an SIF. Staff and client views on the acceptability, facilitators, and barriers to the provision of smoking cessation care were also examined. Methods: This paper presents findings from the qualitative component conducted post-intervention implementation. Face-to-face semi-structured staff interviews (n = 14) and two client focus groups (n = 5 and n = 4) were conducted between September and October 2016. Recruitment continued until data saturation was reached. Thematic analysis was employed to synthesise and combine respondent views and identify key themes. Results: Staff viewed the organizational change intervention as acceptable. Commitment from leadership, a designated champion, access to resources, and the congruence between the change and the facility’s ethos were important facilitators of organizational change. Less engaged staff was the sole barrier to the intervention. Smoking cessation care was deemed suitable. Key facilitators of smoking cessation care included: Written protocols, ongoing training, and visually engaging information. Key barriers of smoking cessation care included: Lack of access to nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) outside of business hours, practical limitations of the database, and concerns about sustainability of NRT. Conclusion: This study develops our understanding of factors influencing the implementation of an organisational change intervention to promote sustainable provision of smoking cessation care in the SIF setting.

A Cluster-Randomized Clinical Trial Testing the Effectiveness of the Addressing Tobacco Through Organizational Change Model for Improving the Treatment of Tobacco Use in Community Mental Health Care: Preliminary Study Feasibility and Baseline Findings

INTRODUCTION

People with mental illness are more likely to smoke and less likely to receive tobacco treatment than the general population. The Addressing Tobacco Through Organizational Change (ATTOC) approach supports organizational change to increase tobacco treatment in this population. We describe preliminary study feasibility and baseline behaviors and attitudes among clients and staff regarding tobacco treatment, and assesse correlates of treatment of smoking.

METHODS

Preliminary accrual, engagement, and baseline data are reported from a cluster-randomized trial comparing ATTOC to usual care. Feasibility, thus far, was the rate of site and participant accrual and engagement (eg, participants remaining in the trial). Correlates of assessing smoking, advising cessation, and providing treatment were assessed.

RESULTS

Site and participant accrual is 80% (8/10) and 86% (456/533), and engagement is 100% and 82%. "Staff asking about smoking" was reported by 63% of clients and 38% of staff; "staff advising cessation" was reported by 57% of clients and 46% of staff; staff report "assisting clients with any medication" at most 22% of the time, whereas at most 18% of clients report receiving a cessation medication; 59% of clients want tobacco treatment, but 36% of staff think that it is part of their job. "Staff assisting with medications" is related to more training, believing treating smoking is part of their job, and believing patients are concerned about smoking (ps < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

This trial of training in tobacco treatment within mental health care is feasible thus far; self-reported rates of tobacco treatment are low and associated with clinician attitudes and barriers.

IMPLICATIONS

Evaluation of ways to help address tobacco use treatment in community mental health care is feasible and needed, including the use of technical assistance and training guided by an organizational change approach.

Nurse provision of support to help inpatients quit smoking

Issue addressed Identification of the factors that facilitate nurses to provide smoking cessation advice to hospitalised patients. Method Six semistructured focus groups with 26 nurses were conducted in June 2015. Participants completed a structured survey to collect patient demographic data and assess attitudes towards their role in addressing smoking cessation among inpatients. Results Important themes that emerged from the qualitative data were: nurses' negative perceptions of smokers, nurses' confidence in their knowledge of smoking cessation care and nurses' uncertainty around whose role it is to provide smoking cessation care. Conclusion Nurses require training in order to confidently and competently address smoking among inpatients as part of routine care. Formal ways to document the smoking status of inpatients and the offer of smoking cessation support from a nurse to an inpatient would enhance the communication between nurses around which inpatients had been asked about their smoking status and which had not. For patients who are resistant to conventional cessation strategies, innovative ways are needed to reduce the harm caused to them by tobacco use. So what? Nurses need to be provided with education and training around smoking cessation to increase their confidence and skills to provide smoking cessation care to inpatients.

PRogram In Support of Moms (PRISM): a pilot group randomized controlled trial of two approaches to improving depression among perinatal women

PURPOSE

This pilot study was designed to inform a larger effectiveness trial by: (1) assessing the feasibility of the PRogram In Support of Moms (PRISM) and our study procedures; and, (2) determining the extent to which PRISM as compared to an active comparison group, the Massachusetts Child Access Psychiatry Program (MCPAP) for Moms alone, improves depression among perinatal women.

METHODS

Four practices were randomized to either PRISM or MCPAP for Moms alone, a state-wide telephonic perinatal psychiatry program. PRISM includes MCPAP for Moms plus implementation assistance with local champions, training, and implementation of office prompts and procedures to enhance depression screening, assessment and treatment. Patients with Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scales (EPDS) ≥ 10 were recruited during pregnancy, and completed the EPDS and a structured interview at baseline and 3-12 weeks' postpartum.

RESULTS

Among MCPAP for Moms alone practices, patients' (n = 9) EPDS scores improved from 15.22 to 10.11 (p = 0.010), whereas in PRISM practices patients' (n = 21) EPDS scores improved from 13.57 to 6.19 (p = 0.001); the between groups difference-of-differences was 2.27 (p = 0.341).

CONCLUSIONS

PRISM was beneficial for patients, clinicians, and support staff. Both PRISM and MCPAP for Moms alone improve depression symptom severity and the percentage of women with an EPDS >10. The improvement difference between groups was not statistically significant due to limited power associated with small sample size.

Prevalence of smoking in a psychiatric hospital and its relationship with respiratory symptoms and the prevalence of COPD

Purpose

Psychiatric patients present an elevated rate of smoking, and the smoking habit is related to a high morbidity and mortality in this collective. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of smoking in patients admitted for psychiatric disorders and its relationship with respiratory disease, the prevalence of COPD, and alterations in the quality of life.

Patients and methods

A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted and detailed information on smoking and respiratory symptomatology was obtained. The study participants underwent the following tests: spirometry with bronchodilator test, Fagerström test, determination of physical activity using the LCADL questionnaire, and evaluation of quality of life with the EuroQoL-5 Dimensions EQ-5D questionnaire.

Results

Two hundred seventy-six patients (mean age 56.8 years) were included: 155 with schizophrenia (87.7% smokers), 46 with depressive or anxiety disorders (54.3% smokers), and 49 and 25 with intellectual disability and dementia (43.2% smokers), respectively. The mean Fagerström test score was 5.75 points. Smokers presented with cough (47.6%), expectoration (41.4%), and chronic bronchitis (36.6%). The prevalence of COPD in the total population was 28.9%. The EQ-5D and LCADL scores were better in smokers because of their younger age and lesser psychiatric involvement. A high prevalence of smoking was observed in the psychiatric population studied, and 28.9% were diagnosed with COPD.

Conclusion

Smokers presented many more respiratory symptoms and chronic bronchitis but did not present a worse quality of life or physical activity due to their younger age and milder psychiatric involvement.

Integrating smoking cessation care into routine service delivery in a medically supervised injecting facility: An acceptability study

BACKGROUND

Among people who inject drugs (PWIDs) the prevalence of tobacco smoking exceeds 80%; making smoking cessation intervention a priority for this population. This study aims to examine staff and client perspectives from a supervised injecting facility regarding: i) whether an organizational change intervention increased rates of smoking cessation care delivery (pre- to post-intervention); and ii) acceptability of the intervention.

METHODS

A pre-and-post intervention pilot study in a supervised injecting facility was conducted in Sydney, Australia between July 2014-December 2015. The intervention employed an organizational change approach and included six components. Cross-sectional samples of staff (pre n = 27, post n = 22) and clients (pre n = 202, post n = 202) completed online surveys pre and post intervention.

RESULTS

From pre to post-intervention staff reported smoking cessation practices significantly increased for the provision of verbal advice (30% to 82%; p < 0.001), offer of free or subsidized nicotine replacement therapy (30% to 91%; p < 0.001), referral to a general practitioner (19% to 64%; p = 0.001), and follow-up to check on quit smoking progress (18.5% to 64%; p = 0.001). Significantly more clients reported receiving all smoking cessation strategies post-intervention. Over 85% of staff agreed that it was acceptable to address client smoking as part of usual care and 95% of clients agreed that it was acceptable to be asked by staff about their tobacco smoking.

CONCLUSIONS

Increasing the provision of smoking cessation care using an organizational change approach is both feasible for staff and acceptable to staff and clients of supervised injecting facilities.

Analyzing Multilevel Factors Underlying Adolescent Smoking Behaviors: The Roles of Friendship Network, Family Relations, and School Environment

BACKGROUND

This study investigates the extent to which friendship network, family relations, and school context are related to adolescent cigarette smoking. Friendship network is measured in terms of delinquent peers; family relations in terms of parental supervision; and school environment in terms of objective (eg, antismoking policy) and subjective (eg, school attachment) characteristics.

METHODS

Findings are based on the secondary analysis of the health behavior in school-aged children, 2009-2010. Two-level hierarchical generalized linear models are estimated using hierarchical linear modeling 7.

RESULTS

At the student level, ties to delinquent friends is significantly related to higher odds of smoking, while greater parental supervision is associated with lower odds. At the school level, antismoking policy and curriculum independently lower smoking behavior. Better within-class peer relations, greater school attachment, and higher academic performance are also negatively related to smoking. Last, the positive association between delinquent friends and smoking is weaker in schools with a formally enacted antismoking policy. However, this association is stronger in schools with better peer relations.

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescent smoking behavior is embedded in a broader ecological setting. This research reveals that a proper understanding of it requires comprehensive analysis that incorporates factors measured at individual (student) and contextual (school) levels.

Tobacco-Free Policy Outcomes for an Inpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Center

We assessed changes in patient census, smoking prevalence, and intention to remain abstinent associated with the voluntary enactment of a campus-wide tobacco-free policy in a for-profit residential addictions treatment center. Employing nationally recognized tobacco-free policy strategies, steps toward implementation were tailored to addictions treatment settings. Census data and survey of client tobacco use data were collected for 1 year before the policy began and for 1 year following the policy. Average daily census increased for both the inpatient and extended residential treatment programs after enactment of the tobacco-free policy. Number of tobacco users admitted to treatment increased significantly, while the number of tobacco users who left treatment early did not significantly change. In addition to reducing smoking, the policy was associated with a significant increase of patients reporting the intention to remain abstinent after discharge. Contrary to common concern, a tobacco-free policy implemented in an inpatient residential addictions treatment setting did not negatively affect census rates. This study suggests potential clinical and organizational benefits for campus-wide tobacco-free policies.

An Exploration of Smoking Among People Attending Residential Substance Abuse Treatment: Prevalence and Outcomes at Three Months Post-Discharge

OBJECTIVES

Smoking continues to be a major health concern for people with a history of alcohol or other substance use problems. The current research is aimed to (1) describe the prevalence of smoking in residential addictions treatment services and (2) compare characteristics of people who had or had not quit smoking.

METHODS

Participants were attending residential substance abuse treatment provided by the Australian Salvation Army. These programs are up to 10 months in length and offer a range of low-intensity smoking cessation supports. Measures of smoking, substance use, and clinical characteristics were collected from 2008 to 2015 at baseline and three months post-discharge from treatment (N = 702).

RESULTS

At baseline, 86% of people were smokers (n = 606). At follow-up, only 48 participants who were smokers at baseline (7%) had quit smoking. Participants who had quit smoking at follow-up also reported higher rates of abstinence from alcohol or other substances at follow-up (72%) than people who had not quit smoking (46%; OR = 2.95, 95% CI [1.52, 5.74]).

CONCLUSIONS

There is potential for smoking cessation to be better addressed as part of routine care in substance abuse treatment settings. Future research should evaluate the provision of more systematic smoking cessation interventions within these settings.

Provision of Chronic Disease Preventive Care in Community Substance Use Services: Client and Clinician Report

INTRODUCTION

People with substance use problems have a higher prevalence of modifiable health risk behaviors. Routine clinician provision of preventive care may be effective in reducing such health behaviors. This study aimed to examine clinician provision of preventive care to clients of community substance use treatment services.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was undertaken with 386 clients and 54 clinicians of community substance use treatment services in one health district in New South Wales, Australia. Client- and clinician-reported provision of three elements of care (assessment, brief advice and referral) for three health risk behaviors (tobacco smoking, insufficient fruit and/or vegetable consumption and insufficient physical activity) was assessed, with associations with client characteristics examined.

RESULTS

Provision was highest for tobacco smoking assessment (90% client reported, 87% clinician reported) and brief advice (79% client reported, 80% clinician reported) and lowest for fruit and vegetable consumption (assessment 23%, brief advice 25%). Few clients reported being offered a referral (<10%). Assessment of physical activity and brief advice for all behaviors was higher for clients residing in rural/remote areas.

CONCLUSION

Assessment and brief advice were provided to the majority of clients for smoking, but sub-optimally for the other behaviors. Further investigation of barriers to the provision of preventive care within substance use treatment settings is required, particularly for referral to ongoing support.

Implementation of smoking cessation treatment in substance use disorder treatment settings: a review

BACKGROUND

The high prevalence of smoking among individuals receiving treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) has led to repeated calls for integrating smoking cessation treatment into these settings.

OBJECTIVES

This review summarizes key findings from the research on the implementation of smoking cessation in SUD treatment.

METHODS

PubMed searches of articles published from 2000 to 2015 yielded 48 empirical studies that focused on the delivery of smoking cessation in the US specialty SUD treatment settings in which organizations and counselors were the unit of analysis. Most studies used observational designs to gather data from organizations and counselors. Organizational studies show that few SUD treatment programs offer cessation counseling or pharmacotherapy. Organizational barriers include limited training, inadequate resources, and cultural norms that do not recognize smoking cessation as part of the organization's mission. Smoking cessation services are more likely to be available in medically oriented treatment settings, larger treatment programs, those offering a broader array of comprehensive services, and those that are more reliant on fee-for-service reimbursement (e.g., insurance, Medicaid). Surveys of counselors also show very low implementation. Counselors' personal skills and attitudes, their perceptions of managerial and coworker support for smoking cessation, and the availability of resources and reimbursement to support these services are correlated with implementation. State policies requiring treatment programs to offer tobacco treatment increase both adoption and implementation, yet these services continue to reach only modest percentages of the patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Few studies have tested specific implementation strategies. Such research is needed to determine how to accelerate the diffusion of these evidence-based practices to the SUD treatment field.

An organisational change intervention for increasing the delivery of smoking cessation support in addiction treatment centres: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background

The provision of smoking cessation support in Australian drug and alcohol treatment services is sub-optimal. This study examines the cost-effectiveness of an organisational change intervention to reduce smoking amongst clients attending drug and alcohol treatment services.

Methods/design

A cluster-randomised controlled trial will be conducted with drug and alcohol treatment centres as the unit of randomisation. Biochemically verified (carbon monoxide by breath analysis) client 7-day-point prevalence of smoking cessation at 6 weeks will be the primary outcome measure. The study will be conducted in 33 drug and alcohol treatment services in four mainland states and territories of Australia: New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, and South Australia. Eligible services are those with ongoing client contact and that include pharmacotherapy services, withdrawal management services, residential rehabilitation, counselling services, and case management services. Eligible clients are those aged over 16 years who are attending their first of a number of expected visits, are self-reported current smokers, proficient in the English language, and do not have severe untreated mental illness as identified by the service staff. Control services will continue to provide usual care to the clients. Intervention group services will receive an organisational change intervention, including assistance in developing smoke-free policies, nomination of champions, staff training and educational client and service resources, and free nicotine replacement therapy in order to integrate smoking cessation support as part of usual client care.

Discussion

If effective, the organisational change intervention has clear potential for implementation as part of the standard care in drug and alcohol treatment centres.

Trial registration

Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12615000204549. Registered on 3 March 2015.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-016-1401-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Update on Smoking Cessation: E-Cigarettes, Emerging Tobacco Products Trends, and New Technology-Based Interventions

Tobacco use disorders (TUDs) continue to be overly represented in patients treated in mental health and addiction treatment settings. It is the most common substance use disorder (SUD) and the leading cause of health disparities and increased morbidity/mortality amongst individuals with a psychiatric disorder. There are seven Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medications and excellent evidence-based psychosocial treatment interventions to use in TUD treatment. In the past few years, access to and use of other tobacco or nicotine emerging products are on the rise, including the highly publicized electronic cigarette (e-cigarette). There has also been a proliferation of technology-based interventions to support standard TUD treatment, including mobile apps and web-based interventions. These tools are easily accessed 24/7 to support outpatient treatment. This update will review the emerging products and counter-measure intervention technologies, including how clinicians can integrate these tools and other community-based resources into their practice.

Cancer screening, prevention, and treatment in people with mental illness

People with mental illness die decades earlier in the United States compared with the general population. Most of this disparity is related to preventable and treatable chronic conditions, with many studies finding cancer as the second leading cause of death. Individual lifestyle factors, such as smoking or limited adherence to treatment, are often cited as highly significant issues in shaping risk among persons with mental illness. However, many contextual or systems-level factors exacerbate these individual factors and may fundamentally drive health disparities among people with mental illness. The authors conducted an integrative review to summarize the empirical literature on cancer prevention, screening, and treatment for people with mental illness. Although multiple interventions are being developed and tested to address tobacco dependence and obesity in these populations, the evidence for effectiveness is quite limited, and essentially all prevention interventions focus at the individual level. This review identified only one published article describing evidence-based interventions to promote cancer screening and improve cancer treatment in people with mental illness. On the basis of a literature review and the experience and expertise of the authors, each section in this article concludes with suggestions at the individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and policy levels that may improve cancer prevention, screening, and treatment in people with mental illness.

Evaluation of tobacco use on Chinese population through ATTOC model: a cross-sectional survey on hospitalized psychiatric patients

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the feasibility of Addressing Tobaccos through Organizational Change (ATTOC) intervention to Chinese psychiatric patients, and to better address tobacco use through the ATTOC intervention model in the context of China.

METHODS

The study was conducted in Mental Health Center of West China Hospital in 2010. A total of 100 hospitalized psychiatric patients were recruited to carry out ATTOC intervention. Subjects suffers from mental illness were diagnosed by professional psychiatrists according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) criteria.

RESULTS

The prevalence of tobacco use in hospitalized psychiatric patients were closely correlated with the type of mental illness, family smoking history, sex, age, marital status, education status, etc. However, most psychiatric patients knew little about these, and tended to ignore the importance of smoking cessation.

CONCLUSIONS

The ATTOC intervention program of the U.S. may be suitable for hospitalized Chinese psychiatric patients, and it could be applied for the tobacco smoking treatment in China. However, the health effects of tobacco use still did not draw amount attentions from both the clinicians and general public. It is urgently needed to raise people's awareness and carry out ATTOC intervention to control tobacco use, and ultimately terminate tobacco use.

Novel setting for addressing tobacco-related disparities: a survey of community welfare organization smoking policies, practices and attitudes

Research in the United States and Australia acknowledges the potential of non-government social and community service organizations (SCSOs) for reaching socially disadvantaged smokers. This study aimed to describe SCSO smoking policies and practices, and attitudes of senior staff towards smoking and cessation. It also investigated factors associated with positive tobacco control attitudes. In 2009, a cross-sectional telephone survey was undertaken of senior staff in Australian SCSOs, 149 respondents representing 93 organizations completed the survey (response rate=65%; 93/142). Most service clients (60%) remained in programs for 6 months plus, and 77% attended at least weekly. Although 93% of respondents indicated they had an organizational smoking policy, it often did not include the provision of smoking cessation support. Most respondents indicated that client smoking status was not recorded on case notes (78%). Attitudes were mostly positive towards tobacco control in SCSOs, with a mean (standard deviation) score of 8.3 (2.9) of a possible 13. The practice of assessing clients' interest in quitting was the only statistically significant factor associated with high tobacco control attitude scores. The results suggest that SCSOs are appropriate settings for reaching socially disadvantaged smokers with cessation support. Although generally receptive to tobacco control, organizations require further support to integrate smoking cessation support into usual care. In particular, education, training and support for staff to enable them to help their clients quit smoking is important.

Strategies for improving perinatal depression treatment in North American outpatient obstetric settings

OBJECTIVE

To identify core barriers and facilitators to addressing perinatal depression and review clinical, programmatic, and system level interventions that may optimize perinatal depression treatment.

METHOD

Eighty-four MEDLINE/PubMed searches were conducted using the terms perinatal depression, postpartum depression, antenatal depression, and prenatal depression in association with 21 other terms. Of 7768 papers yielded in the search, we identified 49 papers on barriers and facilitators, and 17 papers on interventions in obstetric settings aimed to engage women and/or providers in treatment.

RESULTS

Barriers include stigma, lack of obstetric provider training, lack of resources and limited access to mental health treatment. Facilitators include validating and empowering women during interactions with health care providers, obstetric provider and staff training, standardized screening and referral processes, and improved mental health resources.

CONCLUSION

Specific clinical, program, and system level changes are recommended to help change the culture of obstetric care settings to optimize depression treatment.

New systems of care for substance use disorders: treatment, finance, and technology under health care reform

This article outlined ways in which persons with addiction are currently underserved by our current health care system. However, with the coming broad scale reforms to our health care system, the access to and availability of high-quality care for substance use disorders will increase. Addiction treatments will continue to be offered through traditional substance abuse care systems, but these will be more integrated with primary care, and less separated as treatment facilities leverage opportunities to blend services, financing mechanisms, and health information systems under federally driven incentive programs. To further these reforms, vigilance will be needed by consumers, clinicians, and policy makers to assure that the unmet treatment needs of individuals with addiction are addressed. Embedded in this article are essential recommendations to facilitate the improvement of care for substance use disorders under health care reform. Ultimately, as addiction care acquires more of the “look and feel” of mainstream medicine, it is important to be mindful of preexisting trends in health care delivery overall that are reflected in recent health reform legislation. Within the world of addiction care, clinicians must move beyond their self-imposed “stigmatization” and sequestration of specialty addiction treatment. The problem for addiction care, as it becomes more “mainstream,” is to not comfortably feel that general slogans like “Treatment Works,” as promoted by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment during its annual Recovery Month celebrations, will meet the expectations of stakeholders outside the specialty addiction treatment community. Rather, the problem is to show exactly how addiction treatment works, and to what extent it works-there have to be metrics showing changes in symptom level or functional outcome, changes in health care utilization, improvements in workplace attendance and productivity, or other measures. At minimum, clinicians will be required to demonstrate that their new systems of care and future clinical activity are in conformance with overall standards of “best practice” in health care.

The New York policy on smoking in addiction treatment: findings after 1 year

OBJECTIVES

We assessed changes in smoking prevalence and other measures associated with the July 2008 New York Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services tobacco policy, which required that all publicly funded addiction treatment programs implement smoke-free grounds, have "no evidence" of smoking among staff, and make tobacco dependence treatment available for all clients.

METHODS

In a random sample of 10 programs, staff and clients were surveyed before the policy and 1 year later. Measures included tobacco-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices used by counselors and received by clients.

RESULTS

Client smoking decreased from 69.4% to 62.8% (P = .044). However, response to the policy differed by program type. Outpatient programs showed no significant changes on any of the staff and client survey measures. In methadone programs, staff use of tobacco-related practices increased (P < .01), client attitudes toward tobacco treatment grew more positive (P < .05), and clients received more tobacco-related services (P < .05). Residential clients were more likely to report having quit smoking after policy implementation (odds ratio = 4.7; 95% confidence interval = 1.53, 14.19), but they reported less favorable attitudes toward tobacco treatment (P < .001) and received fewer tobacco-related services from their program (P < .001) or their counselor (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

If supported by additional research, the New York policy may offer a model that addiction treatment systems can use to address smoking in a population where it has been prevalent and intractable. Additional intervention or policy supports may be needed in residential programs, which face greater challenges to implementing tobacco-free grounds.

Addressing Tobacco Through Organizational Change (ATTOC) in residential addiction treatment settings

BACKGROUND

Smoking prevalence among persons in addiction treatment is 3-4 times higher than in the general population. However, treatment programs often report organizational barriers to providing tobacco-related services. This study assessed the effectiveness of a six month organizational change intervention, Addressing Tobacco Through Organizational Change (ATTOC), to improve how programs address tobacco dependence.

METHODS

The ATTOC intervention, implemented in three residential treatment programs, included consultation, staff training, policy development, leadership support and access to nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) medication. Program staff and clients were surveyed at pre- and post-intervention, and at 6 month follow-up. The staff survey measured knowledge of the hazards of smoking, attitudes about and barriers to treating smoking, counselor self-efficacy in providing such services, and practices used to address tobacco. The client survey measured knowledge, attitudes, and tobacco-related services received. NRT use was tracked.

RESULTS

From pre- to post-intervention, staff beliefs became more favorable toward treating tobacco dependence (F(1, 163)=7.15, p=0.008), NRT use increased, and tobacco-related practices increased in a non-significant trend (F(1, 123)=3.66, p=0.058). Client attitudes toward treating tobacco dependence became more favorable (F(1, 235)=10.58, p=0.0013) and clients received more tobacco-related services from their program (F(1, 235)=92.86, p<0.0001) and from their counselors (F(1, 235)=61.59, p<0.0001). Most changes remained at follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The ATTOC intervention can help shift the treatment system culture and increase tobacco services in addiction treatment programs.

A systematic review of smoking cessation intervention studies in China

INTRODUCTION

China has the highest number of tobacco smokers among the world's nations; however, no systematic review has been conducted of clinical trials on the efficacy of smoking cessation interventions in China. This paper summarizes findings of studies in order to compare the effect of pharmacotherapy, counseling, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approaches on the abstinence rate.

METHODS

Clinical trials of smoking cessation interventions published in English or Chinese were extracted from an electronic search of PubMed and WanFang databases. The search yielded 234 studies from the PubMed and 78 studies from the WanFang.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine studies were included in this review. Of these, 11 (37.9%) were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the following approaches: counseling (5 studies), TCM (3 studies), pharmacotherapy (1 study), a combination of pharmacotherapy and counseling (1 study), and physician advice (1 study). Pharmacotherapy alone or in combination with counseling generally resulted in a higher abstinence rate than counseling alone. TCM techniques such as acupuncture and ear point seed pressure yielded a much higher abstinence rate than pharmacotherapy and counseling. Findings are inconclusive, however, because most of the TCM studies were noncontrolled trials and did not provide a definition of "abstinence." Findings on the effectiveness of physician advice to quit smoking were also inconclusive.

CONCLUSIONS

A review of smoking cessation studies revealed that pharmacotherapy was effective in China. More RCTs of TCM approaches and physician advice are needed with long-term follow-up assessments and biochemical verification of self-reported abstinence before these approaches are adopted as evidence-based smoking cessation interventions in China.

Measuring smoking knowledge, attitudes and services (S-KAS) among clients in addiction treatment

BACKGROUND

Addiction treatment programs are increasingly working to address prevalent and comorbid tobacco dependence in their service populations. However at present there are few published measurement tools, with known psychometric properties, that can be used to assess client-level constructs related to tobacco dependence in addiction treatment settings. Following on previous work that developed a staff-level survey instrument, this report describes the development and measurement characteristics of the smoking knowledge, attitudes and services (S-KAS) for use with clients in addiction treatment settings.

METHOD

250 clients enrolled in residential drug abuse treatment programs were surveyed. Summary statistics were used to characterize both the participants and their responses, and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to examine the underlying factor structure.

RESULTS

Examination of the rotated factor pattern indicated that the latent structure was formed by one knowledge factor, one attitude factor, and two "service" factors reflecting program services and clinician services related to tobacco dependence. Standardized Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the four scales were, respectively, .57, .75, .82 and .82.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed scales have reasonably good psychometric characteristics, although the knowledge scale leaves room for improvement, and will allow researchers to quantify client knowledge, attitudes and services regarding tobacco dependence treatment. Researchers, program administrators, and clinicians may find the S-KAS useful in changing organizational culture and clinical practices related to tobacco addiction, help in program evaluation studies, and in tracking and improving client motivation.

A tobacco reconceptualization in psychiatry: toward the development of tobacco-free psychiatric facilities

Tobacco dependence is the leading cause of death in persons with psychiatric and substance use disorders. This has lead to interest in the development of pharmacological and behavioral treatments for tobacco dependence in this subset of smokers. However, there has been little attention paid to the development of tobacco-free environments in psychiatric institutions despite the creation of smoke-free psychiatric hospitals mandated by the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Health Organizations (JCAHO) in 1992. This review article addresses the reasons why tobacco should be excluded from psychiatric and addictions treatment settings, and strategies that can be employed to initiate and maintain tobacco-free psychiatric settings. Finally, questions for further research in this field are delineated. This Tobacco Reconceptualization in Psychiatry is long overdue, given the clear and compelling benefits of tobacco-free environments in psychiatric institutions.

Addressing tobacco use disorder in smokers in early remission from alcohol dependence: the case for integrating smoking cessation services in substance use disorder treatment programs

Despite the declining overall rate of cigarette smoking in the general population in the United States, the prevalence of smoking is estimated to be as high as 80% among treatment-seeking alcoholics. The serious adverse health effects of tobacco and heavy alcohol use are synergistic and recent evidence suggests that smoking slows the process of cognitive recovery following alcohol abstinence. In addition, substantial evidence shows that treatment for tobacco dependence does not jeopardize alcohol abstinence. In this paper, we focus on the impact and treatment implications of tobacco dependence among treatment-seeking alcoholics through a review of five areas of research. We begin with brief reviews of two areas of research: studies investigating the genetic and neurobiological vulnerability of comorbid tobacco and alcohol dependence and studies investigating the consequences of comorbid dependence on neurobiological and cognitive functioning. We then review literature on the effects of smoking cessation on drinking urges and alcohol use and the effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions with alcoholic smokers. Finally, we offer recommendations for research with an emphasis on clinical research for enhancing smoking cessation outcomes in this population.

Does the Presence of a Smoking Cessation Clinical Trial Affect Staff Practices Related to Smoking?

This study investigated whether organizational changes occurred when nicotine treatments were tested in specialty care clinics. Two intervention clinics (one drug treatment and one HIV-care) participated in clinical trials for nicotine treatment. Three clinics (two drug and one HIV-care) were control clinics. Staff in the intervention clinics (n=57) and in the control clinics (n=62) were surveyed at baseline and 18 months later. Staff surveys concerned nicotine-related knowledge, beliefs about treating smoking, self-efficacy in delivering such treatment, nicotine related practices, and barriers to providing nicotine treatment. Mean scale scores at 18 months were no different in clinics participating in the clinical trials from the control group for any of the five scales (knowledge, practices, barriers, efficacy, and beliefs). The presence of a smoking cessation clinical trial did not influence staff knowledge, attitudes, or practices related to smoking in these clinics. More specific organizational intervention may influence staff practices related to addressing smoking among clients in drug treatment and HIV-care clinics.

Development of the Smoking Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (S-KAP) Instrument

This report describes the development and measurement characteristics of a new measure of smoking knowledge, attitudes, and practices (S-KAP) among treatment providers. Data are based on survey responses from 336 paid staff working in one of three drug abuse treatment or HIV care settings. Exploratory factor analysis, used to examine the factor structure, pointed towards five underlying factors: a single "knowledge" factor, three "attitude" factors ('treatment barriers,' 'counselor self-factor. The Knowledge scale had a standardized Cronbach's alpha coefficient of .85. The coefficients for Barriers, Self-Efficacy, and Attitudes were .81, .72, and .74, respectively. The Practice scale had a standardized Cronbach's alpha coefficient of .91. These results indicate that the proposed scales have reasonably good psychometric characteristics and will allow researchers to quantify staff knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding smoking cessation treatments and issues.

Staff Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Nicotine Dependence Differ by Setting

This study examined smoking-related knowledge, beliefs, self-efficacy, smoking cessation practices, and barriers to providing smoking cessation services in a workforce sample. The 11 participating clinics (N=335 staff) included substance abuse treatment and HIV care clinics categorized into three types: Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) clinics, hospital-based clinics, and community-based clinics. Staff in both VAMC and hospital-based settings shared characteristics that may predict smoking-related knowledge, beliefs, and practices (higher education level, low smoking rates, fewer staff in recovery, and location in hospital-affiliated environments where there was greater emphasis on physical health). However, staff in VAMC settings outperformed those in both hospital-based and community-based clinic settings on measures of smoking-related knowledge, beliefs, self-efficacy, and practices. Well-developed procedures to support VAMC clinicians in addressing smoking may account for these findings. Findings suggest that both reductions in staff smoking, and development and implementation of smoking policy are needed to support staff in better addressing nicotine dependence in community-based treatment settings.