Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Improving the Quality of Care for the Hospitalized Tobacco User—One Institution’s Transformational Journey

  • Published:
Journal of Cancer Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Hospitalization represents an ideal time to address tobacco cessation. For a variety of reasons, current users do not always receive appropriate support or treatment during the hospitalization. An improvement team was created to improve the care for the hospitalized tobacco user. The team’s aim was to develop a standardized process to increase the assessment, documentation, and delivery of cessation counseling, and increase community referrals upon discharge. After implementation of the project, percentages of hospitalized patients who had their tobacco use status documented in the electronic medical record increased to 80–90%. The percentage of patients admitted with heart failure or pneumonia had their rates of tobacco cessation counseling improved to 82–96%. The care of the hospitalized tobacco user can be improved and sustained by utilizing community resources and creating a team of motivated care providers. This improvement work stimulated the creation of a smoke-free institution and other preventive health measures throughout the institution.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Orleans CT, Kristeller JL, Gritz ER (1993) Helping hospitalized smokers quit: new directions for treatment and research. J Consult Clin Psychol 61:778–789

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Mackenzie TD, Pereira RI, Mehler PS (2004) Smoking abstinence after hospitalization: predictors of success. Prev Med 39:1087–1092

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Munafo M, Rigotti N, Lancaster T, Stead L, Murphy M (2001) Interventions for smoking cessation in hospitalized patients: a systematic review. Thorax 56:656–663

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Miller N, Smith P, DeBusk R et al (1997) Smoking cessation in hospitalized patients: results of a randomized trial. Arch Intern Med 157:409–415

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Wolfenden L, Campbell E, Walsh R, Wiggers J (2003) Smoking cessation interventions for in-patients: a selective review with recommendations for hospital-based health professionals. Drug Alcohol Rev 22:437–452

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Simon JA, Carmody TP, Hudes ES, Snyder E, Murray J (2003) Intensive smoking cessation counseling versus minimal counseling among hospitalized smokers treated with transdermal nicotine replacement: a randomized trial. Am J Med 114:555–562

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Molyneux A, Lewis S, Leivers U et al (2003) Clinical trial comparing nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) plus brief counseling, brief counseling alone, and minimal intervention on smoking cessation in hospital inpatients. Thorax 58:484–488

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Emmons KM, Goldstein MG (1992) Smokers who are hospitalized: a window of opportunity for cessation interventions. Prev Med 21:262–269

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Quality Management Report, DHMC Strategic Success Metrics for Service, Technical, and Cost Excellence, September 2005

  10. Fiore MC, Bailey WC, Cohen SJ (2000) Treating tobacco use and dependence, clinical practice guideline. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Rockville

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Medicine and Community and Family Medicine, Leadership Preventive Medicine Residency, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA

    Stephen K. Liu

  2. Office of Care Management, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA

    Ellen Prior

  3. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA

    Colleen Warren

  4. Tobacco Prevention and Control Program, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Concord, NH, USA

    Teresa Brown

  5. Quality and Patient Safety Department, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA

    Jennifer Snide

  6. Department of Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA

    John R. Butterly

Authors
  1. Stephen K. Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ellen Prior
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Colleen Warren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Teresa Brown
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jennifer Snide
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. John R. Butterly
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephen K. Liu.

Additional information

This work was supported by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services—Division of Public Health Services (06-DPHS-STNAD-27).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Liu, S.K., Prior, E., Warren, C. et al. Improving the Quality of Care for the Hospitalized Tobacco User—One Institution’s Transformational Journey. J Canc Educ 25, 297–301 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-010-0135-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-010-0135-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation