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

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

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.

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).

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