Quit Happens: A community clinic‐based, multitiered smoking cessation intervention

Abstract

Objectives To evaluate the “Quit Happens” program launched to reduce tobacco use in low‐income populations in a federally qualified nonprofit health center with clinics in Washington and Idaho. Quit Happens was implemented in 2015 and involved a public health nurse, patient, provider, clinic, health system, and community components. Design and sample This smoking cessation program was assessed using a pre–post evaluation design. Nine clinics in a single system of federally qualified nonprofit health centers participated in this program. Intervention The Quit Happens program was implemented across nine clinics in Washington and Idaho. A specialized public health nurse led the tobacco cessation training of all clinic staff and assisted with development of the smoking cessation program. The 5A model was used as the framework for the training. Measurements The proportion of patients identifying as a current or former smoker was measured using data extracted from electronic health records. Results Declines in patient reports of currently smoking were observed between 2016 and 2018. The percent of current smokers identified in electronic health records decreased 18.7% and percent of former smokers doubled. Conclusion This community‐based tobacco cessation program had wide clinic and community support and self‐reported smoking behavior declined over time. A public health nurse's leadership in offering training and program development around tobacco cessation to a local community organization can contribute to reductions in smoking rates.

Impact of a nurse‐led brief tobacco cessation training program for healthcare professionals

“…(2017), this study provided a detailed description of healthcare professionals' practices, opinions, and attitudes after attending a training initiative, adding on to the findings of a previous study by Shishani et al. (2019). This study did not explore the participating professionals' client group characteristics (such as their receptivity for a change), which could have also determined the frequency of delivery of the 5As.…”

“…Shishani et al. (2019), who investigated the impact of a public health nurse‐led (3‐hr) face‐to‐face tobacco cessation training program amongst healthcare professionals working in a community health center for socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals in the United States, found that the training intervention was associated with an increase in screening for tobacco use and in the provision of tobacco cessation interventions. The reduction in the number of current smokers and the increase in the number of former smokers observed over a two year period (Shishani et al., 2019), demonstrates the potential impact on a population that just one public health nurse can make by developing and delivering a tobacco cessation training program for other health professionals.…”

Racial and socioeconomic disparities in lung cancer screening in the United States: A systematic review

“…Lower rates of smoking cessation attempts among low‐SES smokers may be mitigated by multilevel interventions, such as “Quit Happens,” 87 an evidence‐based smoking cessation intervention for low‐income populations that uses a combination of behavioral counseling and pharmacotherapy. The program has proven successful among high‐risk populations and includes standardized training for program staff, allowing program adopters to adjust the program to their own needs.…”

Promoting nurse‐led behaviour change interventions to prevent cardiovascular disease in disadvantaged communities: A scoping review

“…Four studies were conducted in rural settings (Beckham, 2007 ; Brown et al, 2011 ; Shishani et al, 2019 ; Weiler & Tirrell, 2007 ) and two others were not, but they did include participants from rural areas (Gibson, 2008 ; Waller et al, 2016 ).…”