Demonstration of a Process- Outcome Link for Smoking Cessation Melissa M. Farmer, PhD 1,2 Elizabeth M. Yano, PhD 1,2 Brian S. Mittman, PhD 1,2 Scott E. Sherman, MD, MPH 1,3 1 VA HSR&D Center of Excellence for the Study of Healthcare Provider Behavior; UCLA Schools of Public Health 2 and Medicine 3 AcademyHealth Annual Meeting Boston June 2005

Background: Smoking Cessation (SC) Nearly 25% of all Americans are smokers Nearly 25% of all Americans are smokers SC has one of the lowest treatment delivery rates of all preventive services. SC has one of the lowest treatment delivery rates of all preventive services. Many SC interventions work Many SC interventions work –NRT and/or buproprion –SC programs –Brief provider tobacco counseling

Background: Why the VA? Smoking is more prevalent among veterans. Smoking is more prevalent among veterans. VA is the largest health care system in U.S. VA is the largest health care system in U.S. –Currently ~6 million VA users: ~2 million smokers Increased SC guideline adherence was among VA’s first national performance goals Increased SC guideline adherence was among VA’s first national performance goals –Substantial improvements in detecting and counseling smokers

QUITS Intervention Evidence-based quality improvement (QI) guideline implementation study at 18 Southwestern VA’s in Evidence-based quality improvement (QI) guideline implementation study at 18 Southwestern VA’s in Intervention did not result in higher quits or quit attempts Intervention did not result in higher quits or quit attempts More research needed on contribution of setting and the process of care More research needed on contribution of setting and the process of care Funded by VA Health Services Research & Development Service

Objectives Examine the relationship between discrete site-level process-of-care measures and clinical outcomes for smoking cessation (30-day abstinence) in a representative sample of VA primary care patients Examine the relationship between discrete site-level process-of-care measures and clinical outcomes for smoking cessation (30-day abstinence) in a representative sample of VA primary care patients

Sample and Methods Site-level data: Primary/Ambulatory care manager survey (n=18) Site-level data: Primary/Ambulatory care manager survey (n=18) –Assessment, counseling, referral to SC programs, treatment & resources available Patient-level data: Telephone survey data from QUITS sample of veterans smokers Patient-level data: Telephone survey data from QUITS sample of veterans smokers –Baseline (n=1941), 12 month follow-up (n=1038) and 18 month follow-up (n=885). –Sociodemographics, health status, smoking status

Analytic Strategy Logistic regression with cluster- adjustment at the site-level to examine process-quality measures as predictors of successful smoking cessation outcomes Logistic regression with cluster- adjustment at the site-level to examine process-quality measures as predictors of successful smoking cessation outcomes –controlling for patient characteristics, baseline health and smoking status.

Facility Characteristics (n=18) Variable % or Mean/SD Assessment of smoking status at visit41% Counseled at visit*2.17(0.54) Referral to specialized SC clinic/program*1.90(0.84) Medications prescribed w/out restrictions31% * 3 point scale: 1=less than half, 2=most, 3=all or almost all patients

Facility Characteristics (n=18) Variable% Site measures assessment performance19% Site measures counseling performance25% Routine follow-up for those counseled44% Staff reminders to assess smoking status81%

Patient Population (n=1038) Variable% Age (22-91)57.18 Race: White64% Self rated health (1=poor-5=excellent)2.49 Had made quit attempt at baseline45%

Results Has not smoked cigarette in past 30 days% Abstinence at 12 month follow-up 9% Abstinence at 18 month follow-up 10%

Logistic Model for 30-day abstinence 12-month N=1038 OR (95% CI) 18-month N=885 OR (95% CI) Assessment2.10( )1.87( ) Counsel1.61( )1.58( ) Referral1.28( )1.08( ) Measures assessment2.38( )2.03( )

Summary of Results: At 12- months increased odds of abstinence at sites that report more frequent assessment, counseling and referrals. At 12- months increased odds of abstinence at sites that report more frequent assessment, counseling and referrals. At 18-months, odds were further increased by sites that report more frequent assessment and counseling. At 18-months, odds were further increased by sites that report more frequent assessment and counseling. Those sites that monitored their own performance for tobacco use assessment had higher odds of abstinence at 12 and 18-months. Those sites that monitored their own performance for tobacco use assessment had higher odds of abstinence at 12 and 18-months.

Limitations Results limited to QUITS sample of facilities and patients Results limited to QUITS sample of facilities and patients Future research needed on the measurement of process-of-care Future research needed on the measurement of process-of-care

Conclusions and Implications Site-level process-of-care measures predict clinical outcomes for smoking cessation. Site-level process-of-care measures predict clinical outcomes for smoking cessation. The demonstration of a process-outcome link between smoking cessation performance measures and veterans’ actual cessation supports VA’s process measurement as a valid marker for ultimately helping veterans quit smoking. The demonstration of a process-outcome link between smoking cessation performance measures and veterans’ actual cessation supports VA’s process measurement as a valid marker for ultimately helping veterans quit smoking.