'Patient Choice' Pharmacotherapy Boxes for Supporting Sick In-Patient Smokers to Quit
| Author(s)
Frances Warden, Laura Fisher, Kevin Gilbride, Elizabeth Pang and Myra Stern
| | Presenter(s) |
Frances Warden Medical Student, Whittington Health, University College London, |
Laura Fisher Medical Student, Whittington Health, University College London, | Abstract Aim: To evaluate patient experience of the boxes, how often the boxes were being used and if they were deemed useful by staff supporting smokers.
Method: Patients and frontline medical staff on 4 sample wards were questioned using a standard questionnaire, designed to collect quantitative and qualitative data. Focused education and media (posters/screen savers) interventions were instituted to improve uptake and usage of the box and a second audit undertaken 6 months later.
Results: 6% of smokers had seen the box in initial audit compared to 42% in the re-audit. Staff knowledge of the box rose from 76% to 90% and usage rose from 28% to 31% following interventions.
Conclusion: Focused education of staff and increased signage improved use of the box which was well received by patients and better understood by staff, reflecting increased intensity of support for smokers to stop. Further improvements need to be made and further auditing of the role of the box in improving quit rates is currently underway.
| Presenter biography Frances Warden- 5th year medical student, University College London, UK
Laura Fisher- 5th year medical student, University College London, UK
| Declaration of interest: None
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