MDHB offers better help for smokers to quit

26/05/2011 | Health Target - Tobacco Control

MidCentral District Health Board has been working extremely hard toward achieving the Government’s tobacco control health target and this is apparent in the quarter three health target results, just released.

The Government health target is to provide 90% of all hospitalised smokers with advice and help to quit by July 2011. Of the 1228 patients admitted to hospital who were identified as smokers in the three months to end March 2011, 968 (78.8%) were offered advice and help to quit smoking (67% in the previous quarter).

MDHB has adopted a number of initiatives throughout the organisation in a sustained effort to achieve this goal. These include:

Clinical staff use the ABCD approach when working with inpatients; Ask smoking status, give Brief advice to all smokers, provide Cessation referral to specialist services, Document all patient’s smoking status on the smokefree adult screening and referral form whether they are a smoker or not.
MDHB introduced the adult screening and referral form as another way of encouraging staff to ask patients their smoking status, offer them advice and help to quit, and document this information.
Competitions have taken place and been very successful, with many wards and departments achieving the target in their area.
An executive champion poster campaign has been developed to support this health target with high profile staff members sharing their own stories about smoking, and encouraging other staff members to help their patients quit and improve their health.
Members of the Smoking Cessation Taskforce regularly visit wards and departments, particularly those areas with short stay inpatients, for example the Emergency Department and Delivery Suite, to support innovative ways to deliver ABCD.
ABCD Smoking Cessation promotional material has been developed to raise awareness about the health target and to use as prizes when running competitions around this target.

MDHB Director of Patient Safety and Clinical Effectiveness, Muriel Hanratty, said: “The Smoking Cessation Taskforce is very impressed with the team work and innovation that has been demonstrated by all areas across the organisation to move closer to achieving the target by July 2011.

“The latest quarter result is thanks to all our staff who are making a huge effort toward this goal and ultimately influencing the health of our community.”

Contact: Communications Unit (06) 350-8945