Physician‐directed smoking cessation using patient “opt‐out” approach in the emergency department: A pilot program

Publication/Presentation Date

7-6-2020

Abstract

Objective

Using a physician‐directed, patient “opt‐out” approach to prescriptive smoking cessation in the emergency department (ED) setting, we set out to describe patient actions as they related to smoking cessation behaviors.

Methods

A convenience sample of smokers at 2 Pennsylvania hospital EDs who met inclusion/exclusion criteria were approached to participate in a brief intervention known as screening, treatment initiation, and referral (STIR) counseling that included phone follow‐up. Demographic information, current smoking status, and specific physician prescription and follow‐up recommendations were collected. Approximately 3 months later, patients were contacted to determine current smoking status and actions taken since their ED visit.

Results

One hundred six patients were approached and 7 (6.6%) opted out of the intervention. Patients who did not opt out were evaluated for appropriate use of smoking cessation‐related medications; 35 (35.4%) opted out of the prescription(s) and 6 (6.1%) were not indicated. Twenty‐one (21.2%) patients opted out of ambulatory referral follow‐ups with primary care and/or tobacco treatment program; one (1.0%) was not indicated for referral. Nineteen (32.8%) patients who received prescription(s) for smoking cessation‐related medications initially also followed the prescription(s). Seventeen (22.1%) patients participated in referral follow‐up.

Conclusion

In this small ED pilot, using the STIR concepts in an opt‐out method, few smokers opted out of the smoking cessation intervention. About one‐third of the patients declined prescriptions for smoking cessation‐related medications and less than one‐quarter declined ambulatory referrals for follow‐up. These findings support a willingness of patients to participate in STIR and the benefits of intervention in this setting.

ISSN

2688-1152

Disciplines

Emergency Medicine

Peer Reviewed for front end display

Peer-Reviewed

Department(s)

Department of Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty, Department of Emergency Medicine Residents, Department of Medicine, Department of Medicine Faculty, USF-LVHN SELECT Program, USF-LVHN SELECT Program Faculty, USF-LVHN SELECT Program Students

Document Type

Article

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