BACKGROUND AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES: There is currently lack of local and overseas studies to support any model of care for inpatient smoking cessation program that will improve quit rates.
The primary objective of the study was to compare the quit rates of patients receiving counselling from a dedicated team of accredited pharmacists versus their non-accredited peers. Patient’s variables were also analyzed for positive predictors of better quit rates.
INTERVENTION OR RESPONSE: Patients admitted into Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, between 1 June 2018 to 31 May 2020 who expressed interest in quitting smoking and provided verbal consent for counselling and follow-up were reviewed. They were referred to a common pool of inpatient pharmacists. From 1 June 2019, patients were seen by the newly formed smoking cessation team (accredited pharmacists certified as Quit Smoking Consultants by the Singapore Health Promotion Board, equipped with advanced knowledge and counselling skills).
Follow up phone calls were conducted at 3 and 6 months after the initial counselling session to assess smoking status.
RESULTS AND IMPACT: A total of 778 patients were identified for smoking cessation counselling, of which 357 (45.9%) were counselled by the smoking cessation team. Most patients were male (91%) with a median age of 59 years of age. Quit rates were higher by the smoking cessation team at 3 months (33.6% vs 26.8%,p<0.05). However, quit rates did not differ significantly at 6 months (30% vs 25.4%,p=0.156). Patients of Chinese descent (OR 1.83,95% CI:1.182 – 2.838,p=0.007), underwent cold turkey treatment (OR 1.63,95% CI:1.022 – 2.604,p=0.040) and received full counselling (OR 1.47,95% CI:1.018 – 2.117,p=0.040) were associated with a significant higher likelihood to quit.
CONCLUSIONS: A dedicated team of accredited pharmacists can improve quit rates at 3 months. Though the 6 months quit rate did not reach statistical significance, there was still a clinically meaningful difference and supports the need for further investigation into sustained benefits.