A pharmacist-led system-change smoking cessation intervention for smokers admitted to Australian public hospitals (GIVE UP FOR GOOD): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Dennis Thomas,Simone Taylor,Susan Poole,Michael J Abramson,Billie Bonevski,Gregory R Weeks,Johnson George,Michael J Dooley

doi:10.1186/1745-6215-14-148

Abstract

BackgroundIntensive smoking cessation interventions initiated during hospitalisation are effective, but currently not widely available. Strategies are needed to integrate smoking cessation treatment into routine inpatient care. Pharmacist-led interventions for smoking cessation are feasible and efficacious in both ambulatory and community pharmacy settings. However, there is a lack of evidence from large scale studies of the effectiveness of pharmacist guided programs initiated during patient hospitalisation in achieving long-term abstinence. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a pharmacist-led system change intervention initiated during hospitalisation in Australian public hospitals.Methods/designA multi-centre, randomised controlled trial will be conducted with 12 months follow-up. Smokers, 18 years or older, will be recruited from the wards of three Victorian public hospitals. Participants will be randomly assigned to a usual care or intervention group using a computer generated randomisation list. The intervention group will receive at least three smoking cessation support sessions by a trained pharmacist: the first during the hospital stay, the second on or immediately after discharge and the third within one month post-discharge. All smoking cessation medications will be provided free of charge during the hospital stay and for at least one week after discharge. Participants randomised to usual care will receive the current care routinely provided by the hospital. All measurements at baseline, discharge, one, six and 12 months will be performed by a blinded Research Assistant. The primary outcome measures are carbon monoxide validated 7-day point prevalence abstinence at six and 12 months.DiscussionThis is the first large scale study to develop and test a pharmacist-led system change intervention program initiated during patient hospitalisation. If successful, the program could be considered for wider implementation across other hospitals.Trial registrationACTRN12612000368831

Highlights

Intensive smoking cessation interventions initiated during hospitalisation are effective, but currently not widely available
This is the first large scale study to develop and test a pharmacist-led system change intervention program initiated during patient hospitalisation
The program could be considered for wider implementation across other hospitals

Summary

Introduction

Intensive smoking cessation interventions initiated during hospitalisation are effective, but currently not widely available. Pharmacist-led interventions for smoking cessation are feasible and efficacious in both ambulatory and community pharmacy settings. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a pharmacist-led system change intervention initiated during hospitalisation in Australian public hospitals. At a time of perceived vulnerability to negative health outcomes, individuals may want to be more aware about the health risks. They may be more receptive to smoking cessation messages and interventions [7,8]. Health benefits to the community are likely to be more pronounced if smoking bans are accompanied by supportive services to assist smokers to quit [10]

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