hospitalization and smoking cessation

Q: Patients who undergo surgery during hospitalization are more likely to quit smoking than those who have not had surgery?

A) True

B) False

Answer: A

It is interesting to note that hospitalization positively influences patients to quit smoking. This may be due to a setting free of usual cues and access to tobacco. Illness also reinforces this, even if hospitalization is unrelated to smoking-induced disease. Patients who undergo surgery, particularly major surgery during hospitalization, are more likely to quit smoking than those who have not had surgery. 

Clinical significance: Patients should be encouraged to avoid tobacco after discharge during ICU or in-patient stay. Intensive counseling increases the likelihood of smoking cessation. Follow-up after discharge also increases the cessation rate.

#tobacco

References:

1. Shi Y, Warner DO. Surgery as a teachable moment for smoking cessation. Anesthesiology 2010; 112:102.

2. Rigotti NA, Clair C, Munafò MR, Stead LF. Interventions for smoking cessation in hospitalised patients. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012; :CD001837.

3. Rigotti NA, Regan S, Levy DE, et al. Sustained care intervention and postdischarge smoking cessation among hospitalized adults: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA 2014; 312:719.