Health Targets 2012/13: Better help for smokers to quit
What is the target?
95 percent of patients who smoke and are seen by a health practitioner in public hospitals and 90 percent of patients who smoke and are seen by a health practitioner in primary care are offered brief advice and support to quit smoking. Within the target a specialised identified group will include:
- Progress towards 90 percent of pregnant women who identify as smokers at the time of confirmation of pregnancy in general practice or booking with Lead Maternity Carer are offered advice and support to quit.
Why is this target area important?
Smoking kills an estimated 5000 people in New Zealand every year, and smoking-related diseases are a significant opportunity cost to the health sector. Most smokers want to quit, and there are simple effective interventions that can be routinely provided in both primary and secondary care.
This target is designed to prompt providers to routinely ask about smoking status as a clinical ‘vital sign’ and then to provide brief advice and offer quit support to current smokers. There is strong evidence that brief advice is effective at prompting quit attempts and long term quit success. The quit rate is improved further by the provision of effective cessation therapies – pharmaceuticals, in particular nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), and telephone or face-to-face support.
Who are Target Champions?
Karen Evison
Target Champion
Dr John McMenamin
Co-Target Champion (Primary Care)
Page last updated: 30 April 2013
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