Abstract
Introduction: The NHS Long Term Plan 2019 aims to offer state-funded smoking cessation to all inpatients by 2023/24. There is a distinct lack of emphasis on outpatients.
Aims: This quality improvement project aims to:
1. Improve smoking status enquiry rate in new respiratory outpatients
2. Improve the rate of offer of smoking cessation referrals
Method: The following data was collated from respiratory outpatient clinic letters:
1. Rates of enquiries regarding smoking status
2. Rates of provision of very brief advice regarding smoking cessation
3. Completion of electronic ‘smoking status forms’ which results in an automatic electronic-referral to smoking cessation services.
The improvement measures below were actioned consecutively after each cycle:
1. Education at departmental meeting & email reminder
2. Visual aids attached to computer screens
3. Targeted reminder to incompliant physicians
The 5th cycle was repeated without an improvement measure to assess sustainability.
Results: The number of patients included per cycle ranged from 27-37.
We demonstrated sustained improvement in both objectives (Figure 1).
Measurements and Main Results: This project demonstrated a marked improvement in smoking cessation effort in our respiratory outpatient clinics. We have identified accessibility to the ‘smoking status e-form’ as a key barrier to further improve smoking cessation referral rates. Reformatting of the clinic letter dictation system to allow increased accessibility is currently underway.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, PA3207.
This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2021