National Quality Improvement programme for Tobacco Dependency Treatment pathways in UK hospitals

<bold>Background:</bold> A new national Quality Improvement (QI) programme for tobacco dependency treatment pathways in UK hospitals was developed in response to unsatisfactory national audit findings. These demonstrated persistently poor identification and treatment rates of people who smoke admitted to UK hospitals, representing a missed opportunity to improve smoking related morbidity and mortality in 450,000 annual admissions amongst people who smoke in the UK. <bold>Aim:</bold> To deliver a new online QI programme focused on improving identification and treatment of tobacco dependency for hospital inpatients in the UK and to evaluate its effectiveness <bold>Methods:</bold> The 6-month programme provided QI knowledge and support to teams to undertake their own QI projects aimed at enacting change and improving service outcomes. The programme included pre-session materials, webinars and small group coaching. 25 teams were invited to participate. <bold>Results:</bold> The outcomes of team’s projects are outlined in Table 1. These improvements indicate the programme’s aim was met. Increased knowledge and confidence using QI methodology and enhanced project management skills were also reported. <bold>Conclusions:</bold> It is feasible to deliver a national, online QI programme addressing a major respiratory objective that is accessible, inclusive, low cost, high value and environmentally sustainable. This QI programme model should be applicable to other areas of Respiratory medicine. Table 1: Programme <table-wrap><object-id>erj;64/suppl_68/OA4668/TB1</object-id><object-id>T1</object-id><object-id>TB1</object-id><table><colgroup><col></col><col></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td>Project theme</td><td>Outcome</td></tr><tr><td>Admission smoking status recording</td><td>60% increase</td></tr><tr><td>Referrals to hospital tobacco dependency advisors</td><td>63% increase</td></tr><tr><td>Nicotine replacement therapy provision</td><td>48% increase</td></tr><tr><td>On-going treatment after hospital discharge</td><td>5 times increase</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap>