Smoking among inpatients at a university hospital

The need for smoking cessation counselling and nicotine withdrawal therapy for hospitalised patients: A smoking point prevalence study at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

Background

South Africa has high tobacco-attributable mortality and a smoking prevalence of 32.5% in males and 25.6% in females. There are limited data on smoking prevalence and desire to quit in hospitalised patients, who have limited access to smoking cessation services.

Objectives

To determine smoking prevalence and the extent of nicotine withdrawal symptoms, using a hospital-wide inpatient survey.

Methods

A 1-day point prevalence survey was conducted at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town. All wards except the haematology isolation, active labour and psychiatry lock-up wards were evaluated. Smoking status, withdrawal symptoms and desire to quit were established.

Results

Smoking status was confirmed in 85.8% of inpatients (n=501/584), of whom 31.9% (n=160) were current smokers; 43.5% (n=101/232) of male and 21.9% (n=59/269) of female inpatients were smokers. Documentation and confirmation of smoking status was highest in the maternity wards (100%) and lowest in the surgical wards (79.6%) and intensive care units (70.0%). Smoking prevalence ranged from 47.6% in male surgical patients to 15.2% in maternity patients. Of the smokers, 54.5% reported being motivated to quit, with a median (interquartile range) Fagerström test for nicotine dependence score of 4 (2 - 6), and 31.4% reported moderate to severe cravings to smoke, highest in the surgical wards.

Conclusion

Smoking prevalence was higher in hospitalised patients than in the local general population. Many inpatients were not interested in quitting; however, a third had significant nicotine withdrawal symptoms. All inpatients who are active smokers should be identified and given universal brief smoking cessation advice. Patients with severe withdrawal symptoms should be allowed to smoke outside, and nicotine withdrawal pharmacotherapy should be provided to those who are bedbound or express a desire to stop smoking during the current admission.

Study synopsis

What the study adds. A single data point prevalence study of active smokers at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, was conducted. The prevalence of smoking was higher in the hospitalised patients than in the general community, but not all smokers were identified by the clinicians. Although symptoms of nicotine withdrawal were severe in some patients, motivation to quit smoking was not related to the degree of withdrawal being experienced. Many patients were not motivated to quit smoking.Implications of the findings. Better identification of inpatient smokers is required, and all should be given smoking cessation advice. Withdrawal symptoms can be severe in some patients, and those who are not interested in stopping smoking should allowed to smoke outside or be provided with nicotine withdrawal pharmacotherapy while in hospital. Those who are willing to quit should be supported as well as possible, including provision of nicotine replacement therapy or varenicline, and followed up after discharge as best practice.

Comparison of two smoking cessation interventions for inpatients

Objective:

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of two cognitive behavioral therapy-based smoking cessation interventions initiated during hospitalization and to evaluate the factors related to relapse after discharge.

Methods:

This was a prospective randomized study involving 90 smokers hospitalized in a university hospital. We collected data related to sociodemographic characteristics, reasons for admission, smoking-related diseases, smoking history, the degree of nicotine dependence (ND), and the level of craving. Patients were divided into two treatment groups: brief intervention (BrInter, n = 45); and intensive intervention with presentation of an educational video (InInterV, n=45). To assess relapse, all patients were assessed by telephone interview in the first, third, and sixth months after discharge. Abstinence was confirmed by measurement of exhaled carbon monoxide (eCO).

Results:

Of the 90 patients evaluated, 55 (61.1%) were male. The mean age was 51.1 ± 12.2 years. The degree of ND was elevated in 39 (43.4%), and withdrawal symptoms were present in 53 (58.9%). The mean eCO at baseline was 4.8 ± 4.5 ppm. The eCO correlated positively with the degree of ND (r = 0.244; p = 0.02) and negatively with the number of smoke-free days (r = −0.284; p = 0.006). There were no differences between the groups in terms of the variables related to socioeconomic status, smoking history, or hospitalization. Of the 81 patients evaluated at 6 months, 33 (40.7%) remained abstinent (9 and 24 BrInter and InInterV group patients, respectively; p = 0.001), and 48 (59.3%) had relapsed (31 and 17 BrInter and InInterV group patients, respectively; p= 0.001). Moderate or intense craving was a significant independent risk factor for relapse, with a relative risk of 4.0 (95% CI: 1.5-10.7; p < 0.00001).

Conclusions:

The inclusion of an educational video proved effective in reducing relapse rates. Craving is a significant risk factor for relapse.

Evaluation of Patients in a Smoking Cessation Support Group Using the Nursing Outcomes Classification

PURPOSE

To evaluate patients in a smoking cessation support group using the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC).

METHODS

Prospective observational cohort study conducted with 21 patients participating in a smoking cessation support group. Data were collected using an instrument consisting of 2 NOC outcomes and 20 indicators, applied during each of the six support group meetings.

FINDINGS

The two NOC outcomes, Smoking Cessation Behavior (1625) and Substance Withdrawal Severity (2108), showed statistically significant differences over time in many of their indicators.

CONCLUSIONS

The NOC outcomes demonstrated the clinical evolution and behavioral improvement of patients during the smoking cessation process.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

The findings highlight important elements of the evaluation of behavioral change and severity of withdrawal symptoms.

[Profile and motivation for smoking cessation in surgical inpatients]

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to describe the profile of smokers hospitalized for surgery, and investigate their motivation to quit. The sample consisted of 100 patients recruited from a university hospital in southern Brazil. Data were collected between February and May 2013, and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The sample was predominantly male (n=58; 58%) and had a mean age of 54.5±13.8 years. Seventy-nine (79%) of the participants were white, 38(38%) were married and 67(67%) had primary education only. Patients started smoking at a mean age of 17±6.6 years, smoked approximately 20(10 to 28.7) cigarettes/day and had been smoking for a mean of 37.4±14.4 years. Ninety-one (91%) patients wanted to stop smoking, 57(57%) were in the preparation phase, 36(36%) had low nicotine dependence and 35(35%) had been encouraged to quit. We concluded that, although hospitalization is a good moment to address smoking cessation, health care professionals do not enact effective and systematic interventions in this regard.