Effectiveness of the tobacco tactics program in the Department of Veterans Affairs.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose was to determine the effectiveness of the Tobacco Tactics program in three Veterans Affairs hospitals.


METHODS
In this effectiveness trial, inpatient nurses were educated to provide the Tobacco Tactics intervention in Ann Arbor and Detroit, while Indianapolis was the control site (N = 1,070). Smokers were surveyed and given cotinine tests. The components of the intervention included nurse counseling, brochure, DVD, manual, pharmaceuticals, 1-800-QUIT-NOW card, and post-discharge telephone calls.


RESULTS
There were significant improvements in 6-month quit rates in the pre- to post-intervention time periods in Ann Arbor (p = 0.004) and Detroit (p < 0.001) compared to Indianapolis. Pre- versus post-intervention quit rates were 4 % compared to 13 % in Detroit, were similar (6 %) pre- and post-intervention in Ann Arbor, and dropped from 26 % to 12 % in Indianapolis.


CONCLUSIONS
The Tobacco Tactics program, which meets the Joint Commission standards that apply to all inpatient smokers, has the potential to significantly decrease smoking among Veterans.
Ann Arbor VA Center for Clinical Management Research, Health Services Research and Development, 2215 Fuller Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA, bump@umich.edu.
Sonia A
SA
Duffy
David L
DL
Ronis
Carrie A
CA
Karvonen-Gutierrez
Lee A
LA
Ewing
Gregory W
GW
Dalack
Patricia M
PM
Smith
Timothy P
TP
Carmody
Thomas
T
Hicks
Christopher
C
Hermann
Pamela
P
Reeves
Petra
P
Flanagan
D005260:Female; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data