Evaluation of brief intervention for smoking cessation in hospitalized patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Since World Health Organization (WHO) recommends brief interventions for smoking cessation to be included systematically in daily practise as a part of clinical work, the main aim of this study is to know if this intervention is done by health professionals working in hospital wards in a general hospital in Barcelona. Secondly, to assess prevalence rates for smoking among patients of a general hospital in Barcelona/Spain. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Brief intervention was assessed asking inpatients at discharge and revising discharge reports. RESULTS: 18.8% of patients were current smokers. Although a majority of discharge reports (72.9%) included patient's smoking status, less than a third of the patients (30.8%) remember having been asked during their stay in hospital. Advice, assistance to help quitting or an arrangement for follow up was exceptional. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking continues not being a priority in hospital setting. Results give some evidence for the need for raising awareness, inform and train health professionals working in hospitals in brief interventions for smoking cessation.