Research

Implementation of a parental tobacco control intervention in pediatric practice
A recent study in Pediatrics examines the role of pediatric outpatient practices in helping parents quit smoking. Researchers conducted a cluster randomized control trial with twenty pediatric practices in which an intervention group of parents received evidence-based assistance to quit smoking. Results of the study show rates of enrollment in the quitline, provision of smoking cessation medication, and counseling for smoking cessation were all higher in the intervention group as compared to the control group. These findings suggest that it is feasible to implement a system-level intervention to increase the delivery of tobacco cessation assistance to parents in the pediatric office. Click here to read more about the study, or view the study abstract here.

As a chronic condition, smoking is undertreated
A recent study by researchers at the Yale School of Medicine found physicians are failing to treat tobacco use as compared to chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes or asthma. Researchers analyzed data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and found 4.4% of tobacco users were prescribed medication during their visit as compared to 51.7% of hypertensive patients, 46.2% of diabetics, and 42.6% of patients with asthma. Researchers conclude that future cessation efforts should focus on improved training for medical students and increased insurance coverage for cessation treatments. The study was published in the August issue of the American Journal of Public Health. To read more, click here, or click here for the abstract of the study.

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Reports

Self-paced online course, Addressing Tobacco Use with Dental Patients, is now live
The National Association of Community Health Centers, Dentaquest, and Break Free Alliance have come together to create a self-paced online course to teach oral health providers how to address tobacco use among their patients. The learning module focuses on tobacco use and its impact on oral health, the types of tobacco products on the market and the role of dental health personnel in implementing tobacco dependence treatment services. To access the course, click here.

Medicaid coverage: Moving towards more sustainable quitlines
The North American Quitline Consortium (NAQC) has released two new reports for the “Medicaid Coverage: Moving Towards More Sustainable Quitlines” series. The two reports titled “Building a Strong Memorandum of Understanding to Secure Medicaid Administrative Match for Quitline Services” and “Building a Strong Cost Allocation Plan Amendment for Medicaid Administrative Match for Quitline Services” follow a recent decision allowing states to claim a 50% federal administrative match rate for quitline services provided to Medicaid enrollees. The reports are made possible with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Office on Smoking and Health. Click here to view the two guidance documents, plus background information, resources, tools, and webinars from NAQC on Medicaid coverage of tobacco cessation services.

New smoking cessation campaign offers support for the "Quitter in You"
The American Lung Association and WellPoint Inc. have launched The Quitter in You campaign. The campaign acknowledges that making multiple attempts to quit is normal and provides necessary steps along the way for those who want to quit, as well as those who want to help someone else quit. Features of the campaign include a 1-800-LUNG-USA help line, e-newsletter, quitting tips widget, and a “find help in your city” feature. The campaign also hosts a separate Spanish-language outreach component. To view the press release from American Lung Association and Well Point Inc., click here. Click here to visit the campaign website.

Tobacco control organizations submit comments on hospital cessation measures to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Ten tobacco control organizations submitted a joint public comment urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to adopt four Joint Commission (formerly the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals) recommendations for hospital based tobacco cessation. In their comment, the tobacco control advocates argue hospitalization is an optimal time to assist smokers in cessation, and that incorporating these quality measures will increase smokers’ access to cessation services. Additionally, the recommendations will extend higher annual payment rates to those hospitals that report on such measures. As hospitals improve their performance, more inpatients will receive cost-effective tobacco cessation services and many will quit using tobacco. To read the joint public comment to CMS, click here.

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International

New publication on strengthening health systems for treating tobacco dependence in primary care
The World Health Organization (WHO) released a new publication to assist countries in developing and integrating brief tobacco interventions into primary care as a first step in providing comprehensive tobacco dependence treatment. The capacity building and training tool titled “Strengthening health systems for treating tobacco dependence in primary care” is part of the WHO Tobacco Free Initiative. WHO has created the tool in response to the Global Health Professions Student Survey (GHPSS) which revealed that many healthcare professionals do not ask smokers about their habit or encourage them to quit. To read more about the publication, click here. To access the full publication, click here.

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