UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

'Opt-out' referrals after identifying pregnant smokers using exhaled air carbon monoxide: impact on engagement with smoking cessation support

Campbell, KA; Cooper, S; Fahy, SJ; Bowker, K; Leonardi-Bee, J; McEwen, A; Whitemore, R; (2017) 'Opt-out' referrals after identifying pregnant smokers using exhaled air carbon monoxide: impact on engagement with smoking cessation support. Tobacco Control , 26 (3) pp. 300-306. 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2015-052662. Green open access

[thumbnail of Tob Control-2016-Campbell-tobaccocontrol-2015-052662.pdf]
Preview
Text
Tob Control-2016-Campbell-tobaccocontrol-2015-052662.pdf - Published Version

Download (907kB) | Preview

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In the UK, free smoking cessation support is available to pregnant women; only a minority accesses this. 'Opt-out' referrals to stop smoking services (SSS) are recommended by UK guidelines. These involve identifying pregnant smokers using exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) and referring them for support unless they object. METHODS: To assess the impact of 'opt-out' referrals for pregnant smokers on SSS uptake and effectiveness, we conducted a 'before-after' service development evaluation. In the 6-month 'before' period, there was a routine 'opt-in' referral system for self-reported smokers at antenatal 'booking' appointments. In the 6-month 'after' period, additional 'opt-out' referrals were introduced at the 12-week ultrasound appointments; women with CO≥4 ppm were referred to, and outcome data were collected from, local SSS. RESULTS: Approximately 2300 women attended antenatal care in each period. Before the implementation, 536 (23.4%) women reported smoking at 'booking' and 290 (12.7%) were referred to SSS. After the implementation, 524 (22.9%) women reported smoking at 'booking', an additional 156 smokers (6.8%) were identified via the 'opt-out' referrals and, in total, 421 (18.4%) were referred to SSS. Over twice as many women set a quit date with the SSS after 'opt-out' referrals were implemented (121 (5.3%, 95% CI 4.4% to 6.3%) compared to 57 (2.5%, 95% CI 1.9% to 3.2%) before implementation) and reported being abstinent 4 weeks later (93 (4.1%, 95% CI 3.3% to 4.9%) compared to 46 (2.0%, 1.5% to 2.7%) before implementation). CONCLUSIONS: In a hospital with an 'opt-in' referral system, adding CO screening with 'opt-out' referrals as women attended ultrasound examinations doubled the numbers of pregnant smokers setting quit dates and reporting smoking cessation.

Type: Article
Title: 'Opt-out' referrals after identifying pregnant smokers using exhaled air carbon monoxide: impact on engagement with smoking cessation support
Location: England
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2015-052662
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2015-0526...
Language: English
Additional information: This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt and build upon this work, for commercial use, provided the original work is properly cited. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Keywords: Cessation, Health Services, Priority/special populations
UCL classification: UCL
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1496327
Downloads since deposit
141Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item