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Experiences from the first two years of the national smoking cessation monitoring/national smoking cessation database in Scotland
Linsey Galbraith, Principal Information & Development Officer, ISD, Scotland
Abstract
Introduction
April 2005 saw the introduction, in Scotland, of a national minimum dataset for NHS smoking cessation services. The dataset was developed by Partnership Action on Tobacco and Health (PATH) part of ASH Scotland, following consultation with services and others.
In July 2005, Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland established a web-based information system that would allow NHS smoking cessation services to capture the minimum dataset information, plus local data items, and provide additional functionality such as statistical reports and letter generation. The database would also allow ISD to produce the national monitoring reports.
Progress to date
- Thirteen out of fourteen NHS board areas in Scotland now using the national database and plans for the remaining board to switch to the national system.
- Over 200 registered database users across Scotland.
- Positive feedback from services on the value of the system for local service management purposes.
- On 26th March 2007, the first anniversary of the smoke-free legislation in Scotland, the first statistics from the national smoking cessation monitoring were published.
- These statistics highlighted wide variation in service uptake and quit rates across NHS board areas. Reasons for this included: differences in the types of services provided across board areas, differences in the services being included in the national monitoring and differences in definitions used.
- In contrast to the English monitoring, the national monitoring in Scotland is based upon client follow-up at 1, 3 and 12 months post quit date. Variations in the proportion of cases lost to follow-up/smoking status unknown, however, has a major impact upon differences in quit rates across boards.
Future developments
- An Expert Review Group for the National Minimum Dataset has been set up and will meet during 2007/2008 to monitor and review the dataset to ensure it remains ‘fit for purpose’.
- The national database is available at present only over the NHS-net, but will likely become available over the wider internet, giving potential access to more agencies.
- Interest from outside of Scotland in buying into the national database/selling the system to others.
- Plans for more detailed topic-based analyses and research based on the minimum dataset.
Biography
Ms Linsey Galbraith, Principal Information & Development Officer, ScotPHO collaboration, Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland
Since May 2005, Project Manager, National Smoking Cessation Database Initiative. Prior to that, research, information and evaluation roles in the field of drug misuse at ISD Scotland and the Scottish Executive. Also, previous research and evaluation experience in urban regeneration, social work and planning.
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