Systems Approach to Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence

[Michael Seserman]

I thought it might be useful to start a new thread that takes a step back and focuses on the comprehensive, system-wide strategies recommended in the 2000 U.S. Clinical Practice Guideline for Treating Tobacco Use Dependence.

At the American Cancer Society, we have developed assessment tools for healthcare and health plans that our staff can use to evaluate whether these strategies are being implemented.

[Scott Crespy]

Hi Michael,

Thank you very much for sharing the "Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: A Systems Approach" document from the Public Health Service Clinical Guidelines. It is an excellent overview of the types of processes that are helpful in making an impact on smoking rates. While it has great suggestions for identifying smokers and implementing a multi-disciplinary treatment approach, I was really struck with the need to coordinate efforts with Insurers, Managed Care Organizations, and Purchasers! Thanks for bringing this document to our attention!

Scott Crespy, IPRO Smoking Cessation Project Manager

[Michael Seserman]

We have developed some assessment tools which can be used to identify which of the recommended systems strategies to address tobacco dependence you have in place and where you may need to focus some resources.

The first is a standard questionnaire with lots of room for taking notes. The second document can be used to document a healthcare system's baseline and later progress toward making the necessary organizational changes.

[Scott Crespy]

Hi Michael,

Thank you very much for sharing these extremely valuable tools. I can see how it would be very worthwhile for hospitals that are newly developing a Tobacco Control/Smoking Cessation initiative as well as those with well established programs and policies to use these worksheets to assess their current status as well as chart their next steps. Are there any restrictions on the use of these documents? Can members of the quality improvement community feel free to download them and use them in the quality initiatives at their institutions? Thanks again.

Scott Crespy, PhD
IPRO Smoking Cessation Project Manager

[Michael Seserman]

There are no restrictions on the use of these assessment tools. I wanted to leave them as Word documents so they can be tailored to your own institutions, can add logos, etc.

I would love to know if any hospitals begin using one of the assessments and if it is helpful for promoting sustainable changes.