This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Maizlish, N. A. Articles by Hendry, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Maizlish, N. A. Articles by Hendry, K. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

A Systems-Based Intervention to Promote Smoking as a Vital Sign in Patients Served by Community Health Centers

Community Health Center Network, Alameda, California, neilm{at}chcn-eb.org

Jodie Ruland, MDiv

Alameda Health Consortium

Marishka E. Rosinski, RN, MPH

Community Health Center Network, Alameda, California

Khati Hendry, MD

Community Health Center Network, Alameda, California

The frequency of asking and advising adult patients about tobacco use was measured after an intervention to adopt smoking as a vital sign at 7 community health centers. The intervention consisted of training staff, revising forms and vital sign stamps, and disseminating educational materials. Documentation in medical charts was reviewed for 1571 randomly sampled patients in 2002 and 2003. The point prevalence (last encounter) and period prevalence (any annual encounter) of asking patients about smoking increased significantly from 2002 to 2003 (59% to 85%, and 71% to 97%, respectively) overall and at each health center. On advising smokers to quit, 4 health centers improved, but the overall point prevalence, 26%, and period prevalence, 46%, were unchanged over time. An intervention using multiple strategies may have contributed to improving the rates of asking but did not have as large or consistent an impact on rates of advising smokers to quit.

Key Words: smoking as a vital sign • community health center • smoking cessation • health disparities

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. E Sherman A framework for tobacco control: lessons learnt from Veterans Health Administration BMJ, May 3, 2008; 336(7651): 1016 - 1019. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. F. Rothemich, S. H. Woolf, R. E. Johnson, A. E. Burgett, S. K. Flores, D. W. Marsland, and J. S. Ahluwalia Effect on Cessation Counseling of Documenting Smoking Status as a Routine Vital Sign: An ACORN Study Ann. Fam. Med, January 1, 2008; 6(1): 60 - 68. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]