54 Is Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) Offered and Prescribed to Current Smokers Admitted to Thoracic Surgery?

Abstract

Abstract Background Cigarette smoking is a well-known habitual risk factor for lung cancer. Lung cancer resections make up the majority of BRI Thoracic Surgery admissions. Smoking has a negative impact on long term survival and disease progression of lung cancer patients increasing risk of recurrence and secondary tumours following surgery with curative intent. Method Retrospective analysis of all patients discharged from thoracic surgery during December 2021, February 2022 and March 2022. Interventions were implemented following thoracic surgery team meetings in January and February. Data was obtained from pre-operative assessments, inpatient clinical notes, discharge summaries and discharge medications. Interventions included team discussions and education, implementation of NRT prompts in EPR pathway and NRT prescribing stickers in drug charts. Results The majority of admissions were for lung cancer resections reaching 49% of admissions in February and March. In December, February and March: 70%, 55% and 50% of patients respectively had no documented discussion of smoking cessation/ NRT during admission and were not discharged with NRT. Conclusions 78% of patients who were offered NRT as an inpatient accepted and were discharged with appropriate NRT. The number of patients who had no documented discussion about smoking cessation, and subsequently no NRT prescribed on discharge improved over the months (70%, 55% and 50% respectively). 16% of patients had no smoking status documented at pre-op or during admission. There is room for improvement in NRT discussions on the ward, allowing prescription of NRT to promote smoking cessation on discharge.