Implementation and evaluation of a smoking cessation checklist implemented within Australian cancer services

A. L. Young, N. M. Rankin, E. Whippy, S. Cooke, C. Milross, Robert Zielinski, H. Brennan, M. Grand, P. Beale

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Introduction: The detrimental impact of smoking tobacco can be mitigated when cancer patients quit smoking. Smoking cessation clinical pathways are inconsistently implemented within Australian cancer services. The aim of this study was to pilot test and evaluate the reach, adoption, and implementation of a smoking cessation checklist within oncology services. Methods: The checklist was implemented over a 6-month period in medical and radiation oncology services at two metropolitan and one rural hospital. The RE-AIM framework guided the evaluation process. Implementation strategies included training, process mapping, and identifying champions. Evaluation measures included a clinical data audit, surveys, and semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals (HCPs). Results: Healthcare professionals (HCPs; N = 63; 41% oncologists, 32% nurses, 27% others) completed 1276 checklists with cancer patients between November 2019 and December 2020. Of the 126 (10%) identified current smokers, 34 (27%) accepted a referral to either Quitline, Nicotine Replacement Therapy, to a general practitioner or dedicated HCP for follow-up telephone support. There was variation in screening adoption by HCPs across the three hospitals, with 16%, 92% and 89.5% of patients screened respectively. Contextual factors, such as perceived commitment, role identity, and communication processes appeared to influence the outcomes. Conclusion: A checklist is a simple, effective, and versatile intervention used to standardise smoking cessation practices in medical and radiation oncology services. The checklist supports standardisation of referral practices to smoking cessation services for cancer patients by either oncologist and/or nurses.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)e469-e478
Number of pages10
JournalAsia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology
Volume18
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Open Access - Access Right Statement

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes. � 2022 The Authors.

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