Hutt hospital staff members Stephen Vega, Smokefree DHB Coordinator, and Dr Iwona Stolarek, Consultant Physician, have had their paper on helping patients quit smoking published in The New Zealand Medical Journal.
The paper reviewed the effect of educational and other measures on smoking cessation interventions, measured by the use of nicotine replacement therapy for inpatients before and after the changes.
In 2007 a Health and Disability Commissioner’s report recommended that district health boards review their smokefree policies and become more proactive in helping people stop smoking by offering nicotine patches on admission.
Hutt hospital health professionals and managers have responded to the report and Ministry of Health initiatives, to make attention to smoking a part of regular clinical practice.
In 2007, Hutt hospital agreed to put smoking cessation training in place and to review its existing Smokefree Policy. Since July 2007, training on how to help people stop smoking has been offered monthly, and is available to all staff.
Staff also reviewed the DHB’s smokefree policy. The policy now takes a treatment focused approach, recognising that appropriate levels of care and support need to be in place for patients, staff and visitors who smoke.
Nationally during 2008, there were changes to make subsidised Nicotine Replacement Therapy (patches and lozenges) more readily available.
The article shows that both educating house surgeons for smoking interventions, and the other changes, have produced results. Data from Hutt hospital pharmacy shows significant increases in the use of nicotine replacement therapy for patients every year since education sessions began.
“Staff at Hutt hospital take a view that patients must receive the best quality care through all aspects of their treatment, and this includes smoking. It is great to work in an organisation that supports this approach and the results have been gratifying.” Stephen said.
Having the article published allows other DHBs to learn from Hutt hospital’s example. If similar smoking cessation interventions occurred nationally this could have a significant impact on many New Zealander’s health.
Please click here to see the article.
Vega,S and Stolarek, I. Smoking cessation education increases interventions in a New Zealand hospital: World No Tobacco Day revisited. N Z Med J 2010, Vol 123, No 1317. |