Patient Survey on Implementing Smoking Cessation at King's College Hospital
| Author(s)
Naeem Mitha, Huma Alam and Ann Wylie
| | Presenter(s) |
Huma Alam King's College London School of Medicine | Abstract Aims & Background
Admission to hospital provides an important opportunity for healthcare professionals to promote smoking cessation. In light of the proposed implementation of NICE guidance (2013) on smoke-free grounds in secondary care, this project seeks to assess the challenges in the management of the smoking population admitted to King’s College Hospital (KCH).
Method
Newly admitted patients were consented and interviewed using a structured questionnaire on eight wards, both acute and chronic, over a three week period.
Findings
In total, 360 patients were interviewed of whom 146 (40.6%) currently smoked. The mean age of smokers on the wards (52.1) was significantly lower than for non-smokers (64.3) (p<0.001). Most smokers (64.5%) intend to stop and 28.2% intend to ‘within one month’. Pre-admission, 39.7% of smokers had received smoking cessation advice or support. Referral of current smokers to Community Cessation Advisors occurred in 10.3%. During the current admission, 80% of smokers did not receive any support and 58.2% were disinterested in cessation support/advice after discharge.
Conclusion
There is a temporary abstinence of a highly addicted smoking population during admission. The findings indicate the need for effective systems to be put into place to manage patients optimally during this window of opportunity.
| Source of funding: King's College London, School of Medicine
| Declaration of interest: None
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