Routine screening of hospital patients for secondhand tobacco smoke exposure: a feasibility study

Secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) exposure causes over 40,000 deaths per year, but healthcare systems rarely address this risk factor. In September 2012, Massachusetts General Hospital initiated routine inpatient screening for SHS exposure by adding a question to the nurses' computerized admission assessment form ("Is smoking allowed in your home or car?"). We measured the implementation of this screening question over 1year.

Multivariable analysis of hospital records of adult and pediatric admissions (N=35,701) from September 1, 2012 to August 31, 2013, to assess screening question completion and identify characteristics of nonsmokers who may be exposed to SHS.

Nurses entered "Yes" or "No" to the screening question for 91% of 34,295 adult admissions and 86% of 1406 pediatric admissions. Among nonsmokers, smoking in the home or car was allowed for 3% of adult admissions and 4% of pediatric admissions. Adults admitted for psychiatric diagnoses, children admitted for asthma, and patients with Medicaid insurance had higher odds of exposure to SHS in their home or car.

Routine screening of SHS among hospitalized patients by nurses is feasible. Doing so offers hospitals an opportunity to intervene and to promote smoke-free policies in patients' homes and cars.