Smoking is still highly prevalent among patients with and without cardiovascular disease admitted to hospitals.
The purpose of the Tobacco Project is to encourage more patients to quit smoking through a new nurse-led intervention in hospitals, followed by continued support in the community. The project will also provide new interdisciplinary knowledge on the clinical and psychological factors that influence smoking behavior.
Initiated in 2020, the project includes i. a randomized, controlled, single-center pilot study (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04772144) conducted from February to November 2021, ii. a qualitative study, and iii. a randomized, controlled, multi-center study with clinical and health economic outcomes (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05049174) conducted from 2021 to 2023. Led by John Munkhaugen, the project involves collaborations with the Norwegian Directorate of Health and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, among others.
The project has resulted in one completed master’s thesis. Two PhD candidates are currently working on the project.
The project will clarify the benefits, advantages, and costs of a new smoking cessation program that could potentially change current clinical practice. If successful, the intervention can be implemented in Norwegian hospitals to help and support more cardiovascular patients in quitting smoking, thereby reducing their risk of illness and death. The project seeks to strengthen collaboration between specialist and primary healthcare services, alliviate the burden on general practitioners, streamline patient processes, and enhance the partnership between municipalities and hospitals. Through the qualitative component of the project, new insights into the factors influencing smoking behavior among patients will be gained.
RESEARCH RESULTS
- A multi-component intervention increased access to smoking cessation treatment after hospitalization for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. A randomized trial.European Heart Journal Open, 2024
- Barriers and facilitators for smoking cessation in chronic smokers with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease enrolled in a randomized intervention trial – a qualitative study. Frontiers in Psychology vol 14, 2023
- Effect of in-hospital nurse-led smoking cessation intervention for patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: a randomised pilot study. European Heart Journal 2022