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  • Secondary care resources

    The NCSCT have written, and are reviewing, series of factsheets that present the clinical case to support the delivery of stop smoking support in secondary care.

    Smoking cessation interventions have proven to be effective for hospitalised patients. There is strong evidence in terms of the short and long-term benefits of stopping smoking on health and hospital outcomes. For these reasons, the NHS Long Term Plan has committed that all people admitted to hospital who smoke will be offered NHS-funded tobacco treatment services by 2023-24.

    The NCSCT secondary care factsheets summarise the relationship between cigarette smoking and specific diseases or conditions and the clinical benefits of quitting. They also cover what we known about intervening with these patient groups in the hospital setting, including the use of stop smoking medications and referral to specialist stop smoking support.

    How were these factsheets put together?

    Most of the NCSCT Secondary Care Factsheet series were last updated in October 2020 and provide a summary of the latest scientific evidence on the association between cigarette smoking and specific patient groups treated in secondary care. The factsheets also summarise the benefits of stopping smoking, and best practice for addressing cigarette smoking and quitting for each patient population.

    The update process was informed by a comprehensive review of recent systematic reviews of the published literature including the Cochrane Collaboration's Tobacco Addiction Group, Action on Smoking and Health, the Royal College of Physicians, Public Health England, and the United States Surgeon General's Reports on Smoking and Health and Smoking Cessation. Additionally, a focussed review was conducted in PUBMED/MEDLINE using key word searches for each patient population and "smoking" or "smoking cessation"

    The clinical case for providing stop smoking support to hospitalised patients

    The aim of this document is to provide clinicians and managers working in hospital with the clinical case to support patients to stop smoking while in hospital, even if this is just for a period of forced abstinence whilst admitted.

    Fully updated in 2020.

    Cardiovascular patients factsheet

    The aim of this factsheet is to describe the clinical case for providing stop smoking support cardiovascular patients in secondary care and the best practices for intervening with CVD patients who smoke in hospital settings.

    Fully updated in 2020.

    Diabetic patient factsheet

    The aim of this factsheet is to describe the relationship between smoking and diabetes, as well as, presenting the health benefits of stopping smoking for diabetic patients and how to approach this in secondary care.

    Fully updated in 2020.

    Dental patient factsheet

    This factsheet explains how smoking affects the mouth and argues why stop smoking support should be provided to dental patients.

    Fully updated in 2020.

    Mental Health Patients

    This factsheet the relationship between smoking and mental health illness, as well as, making the case for providing stop smoking support to mental health inpatients and known best practices.

    Fully updated in 2020.

    Oncology patient factsheet

    The aim of this factsheet is to describe the relationship between smoking and cancer, as well as, make the case for providing stop smoking support to oncology patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

    Fully updated in 2020.

    Paediatrics factsheet

    The aim of this factsheet is to provide clinical case to support temporary abstinence with a view to prompting a permanent quit in parents or carers of paediatric patients.

    Fully updated in 2020.

    Pregnant women factsheet

    The aim of this factsheet is to provide clinical case to support smoking abstinence among pregnant women and best practices for supporting women with quitting in secondary care.

    Fully updated in 2020.

    Respiratory patient factsheet

    The aim of this factsheet is to describe the relationship between smoking and respiratory conditions (asthma, COPD, respiratory infections), as well as, make the case for providing stop smoking support to respiratory patients in secondary care.

    Fully updated in 2020.

    Rheumatology patient factsheet

    This document provides clinical case to support the importance of supporting patients with rheumatoid arthritis with stopping smoking as well as the growing evidence of the association between smoking and systemic lupus erythematosus.

    Fully updated in 2020.

    Stroke patient factsheet

    This documents examines the relationship between smoking and stroke, the benefits of quitting on stroke and health outcomes, and best practices for delivering stop smoking interventions to stoke patients in secondary care.

    Fully updated in 2020.

    Surgical patient factsheet

    The aim of this factsheet is to describe the relationship between smoking and surgical outcomes, as well as, make the case to support for temporary abstinence with a view to prompting a permanent quit using evidence-based stop smoking support.

    To gain maximum benefit, a quit attempt needs to begin at least 8 weeks before surgery and lead to permanent quitting.

    Fully updated in 2020.

    Wound care factsheet

    The aim of this factsheet is to describe the relationship between smoking and wound healing and make the case to support for temporary abstinence with a view to prompting a permanent quit using evidence-based stop smoking support.

    Fully updated in 2020.

    Supporting renal patients

    This study looks at the clinical case for providing stop smoking support to renal patients.

    Supporting ophthalmology patients

    This document explains how smoking affects the eye, and provides the clear clinical case for providing stop smoking support to ophthalmology patients.

    Neurology patients

    This document looks at the relationship between smoking and neurological and provides the clinical case for providing stop smoking support.

    Gynaecology patients

    This briefing details the benefits for women of stopping smoking and details how to intervene with this important group.

    Ear, nose and throat patients

    This case study looks at the health benefits of stopping smoking for ENT patients.

    Interventions in Secondary Care - Orthopedic Patients Factsheet (NHS Smokefree, 2010)

    The aim of this initiative is to provide clinical support for temporary abstinence with a view to prompting a permanent quit.