Smoking cessation care provision and support procedures in Australian community mental health centers

Abstract

Objective: The study assessed the association of supportive clinical systems and procedures with smoking cessation care at community mental health centers.

Methods: Managers (N=84) of community mental health centers in New South Wales, Australia, were asked to complete a survey during 2009 about smoking cessation care.

Results: Of the 79 managers who responded, 56% reported that the centers assessed smoking for over 60% of clients, and 34% reported that more than 60% of clients received minimum acceptable smoking cessation care. They reported the use of guidelines and protocols (34%), the use of forms to record smoking status (65%), and the practice of always enforcing smoking bans (52%). Minimum acceptable smoking cessation care was associated with encouraging nicotine replacement therapy for staff who smoke (odds ratio [OR]=9.42), using forms for recording smoking status (OR=5.80), and always enforcing smoking bans (OR=3.82).

Conclusions: Smoking cessation care was suboptimal, and additional supportive systems and procedures are required to increase its delivery.