Clinical question
How effective are electronic health records in supporting smoking cessation?
Bottom line
Documentation of tobacco status and referral to cessation counselling appeared to increase following electronic health record (EHR) modifications designed to prompt the recording and treating of tobacco use at healthcare visits. The most common enhancement of the EHR was the linking of smoking patients with a telephone-based quitline (9/16 studies). Study length varied from a few days to 19 months.
Caveat
None of the studies included a direct assessment of patient quit rates. Nine of the 16 trials were observational studies, so were lower quality than randomised controlled trials. Overall, these studies found only modest improvements in some of the recommended clinician actions on tobacco use.
Context
Health information systems such as EHRs, computerised decision support systems and electronic prescribing are potentially valuable components to improve the quality and efficiency of clinical interventions for tobacco use.
Cochrane Systematic Review
Boyle R et al. Use of electronic health records to support smoking cessation. Cochrane Reviews, 2014, Issue 12. Art. No.: CD008743.DOI: 10.1002/14651858. CD008743.pub3. This review contains 16 studies (total number of participants not stated).
Cochrane Systematic Reviews for primary care practitioners
Developed by the Cochrane Primary Care Field, New Zealand Branch of the Australasian Cochrane Centre at the Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Auckland and funded by the Ministry of Health and New Zealand Doctor. PEARLS are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care. New Zealanders can access the Cochrane Library free via www.cochrane.org.nz
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