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Published on: August 1, 2019
Computerized assessment of surgical patients for tobacco use: accuracy and acceptability
Luke Wolfenden1, Angela Dalton, Jenny Bowman
1Hunter New-England Population Health, Hunter New-England Area Health Service, Locked Bag 10, Wallsend 2298, NSW, Australia. luke.wolfenden@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au
Background:
Despite increased risks of postoperative complications among patients who use tobacco, a number of barriers hinder the systematic identification of surgical patients who smoke. The study investigated the accuracy and acceptability of a patient-completed touchscreen computer program, which assessed patient smoking status during attendance at a surgical pre-operative clinic.
Methods:
One thousand and four patients participated in the study and completed a touchscreen computer smoking assessment program.
Results:
The sensitivity and specificity measures of the computerized assessment were 93% and 95% respectively. Patients, and clinic receptionists, nurses and anaesthetists found the touchscreen computer-based assessment acceptable.
Conclusions:
The findings suggest that computerized assessment of smoking status is an accurate and acceptable way to identify tobacco users in a pre-operative clinic setting.
