Abstract

LISANTI, Raúl et al. Minimal intervention in smoking to inpatients. Experience in a hospital in Mendoza. Rev. amer. med. respiratoria [online]. 2011, vol.11, n.3, pp.151-155. ISSN 1852-236X.

Objectives: Physicians fulfill an important role in tobacco control, especially through the minimal intervention performed during the hospitalization of smoker patients in an internal medicine service. Material and method: a survey was carried out among patients in an internal medicine service of Del Carmen Hospital a few hours before hospital discharge. The survey included questions on epidemiological and clinical data, anti-tobacco advice and referral to cessation therapy. The survey was carried out in a period of 30 days. ?² statistical comparisons were performed. Results: Out of 173 surveyed patients, their clinical records showed that 100% had been questioned on the smoking habit, 19.1% were current smokers, 34.1% former smokers and 46.8% non-smokers. During hospitalization a minimal intervention took place in 33% of smokers and of the total of smokers 18.1% were referred to cessation clinics. Among these patients, 57% reported having received medical advice to quit smoking in medical consultations before the hospitalization. Conclusions: Although the clinical records registered information on the smoking habit in 100% of the hospitalized patients included in the survey, only one of every three patients received minimal intervention and only 18% were referred to nicotine cessation clinics. These interventions should be improved, taking into account that patients remain hospitalized for several days and they are well motivated to quit because the smoking habit is probably one of the risk factors for the medical condition they are suffering.

Keywords : Smoking; Inpatient; Minimal intervention.

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