Establishment of a smoking cessation programme in primary and secondary care in Canterbury

Aims. Smokescreen for the 1990's is a smoking cessation programme devised for use in pnmary care in Australia. It is based on the readiness to change' model where smokers are categorised as being ready', unsure', ot not ready' to quit smoking. Those in the ready' group are enconraged to set a quit date and offered nicotine replacement therapy. Those in the unsote group receive brief motivational intervention, and those not ready' are given simple health advice. The aims of the study were to evaluare the process and outcome of establishing this program in primary and secondary care in Christcburch, Methods. Process evaluation involved all stafi participatiog in the prograrn, Pauent outcomes including quit rates were assessed by interview six months after enrolment. Results. Implementation was successful with 59 general practiooners, 49 practice aurses and 294 hospital staff recerving educaoon in the use of the programme. Nine hundred and seven parients (smokers) were enrolled in the study, 347 from primary care and 560 from Christchurch Hospital. The point prevalence abstinence rate at 6 months was 10 4% for the primary care sample and 17% for the sccondary care group, with an overall rate of 14.4%. Canclusions. The programme was successfully implemented across primary and secondary care with an acceptable quit rate at 6 months.