A randomised controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of a nurse‐provided intervention for hospitalised smokers

Objective:Does the provision of a nurse‐based intervention lead to smoking cessation in hospital patients? Methods: At tertiary teaching hospital in Newcastle, Australia, 4,779 eligible (aged 18–80, admitted for at least 24 hours, and able to provide informed consent) and consenting (73.4%) in‐patients were recruited into a larger cross‐sectional survey. 1,422 (29.7%) smokers (in the last 12 months) were randomly assigned to control (n=711) or intervention group (n=711). The brief nurse‐delivered intervention incorporated: tailored information, assessment of withdrawal, offer of nicotine replacement therapy, booklets, and a discharge letter. Self‐reported cessation at 12 months was validated with CO and salivary cotinine. Results: There were no significant differences between groups in self‐reported abstinence at three or 12 months post intervention, based on an intention to treat analysis. At three months, self‐reported abstinence was 27.3% (I) and 27.5% (C); at 12 months was 18.5% (I) and 20.6% (C). There were no differences in validation of self‐report between intervention and control groups at 12 months. Conclusion: This brief nurse‐provided in‐patient intervention did not significantly increase the smoking cessation rates compared with the control group at either three or 12‐month follow‐up. Implications: A systematic total quality improvement model of accountable outcome‐focused treatment, incorporating assertive physician‐led pharmacotherapy, routine assessment and recording of nicotine dependence (ICD 10 coding), in‐and outpatient services and engagement from multidisciplinary teams of health professionals may be required to improve treatment modalities for this chronic addictive disorder.