Integrating a Systematic, Comprehensive E-Cigarette and Vaping Assessment Tool into the Electronic Health Record

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Clinical Informatics
• Pulmonology

Background:

• Rising electronic cigarette use has led to an increase in vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI).
• Clinical data on e-cigarette users is crucial for identifying EVALI risk factors.
• A novel assessment tool was needed to systematically collect this vital information.

Approach:

• Developed and integrated an electronic cigarette/vaping assessment tool (EVAT) into a statewide Electronic Health Record (EHR) system.
• Created educational materials and conducted training sessions for healthcare providers on vaping risks and EVAT utilization.
• Monitored EVAT implementation and usage across various clinical settings.

Key Points:

• EVAT was successfully built, validated, and integrated into the EHR by July 2020.
• Extensive training was provided through live seminars, virtual sessions, and asynchronous resources.
• As of December 2022, EVAT had been used over 988,000 times, evaluating more than 376,000 unique patients across 1,063 healthcare sites.

Conclusions:

• The EVAT implementation was successful, demonstrating significant adoption within the healthcare system.
• Ongoing outreach and enhanced educational materials are necessary to maximize EVAT usage.
• Targeted education is needed to assist providers in addressing vaping-related harms, particularly in youth and vulnerable populations, and connecting patients with cessation resources.