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Health target highlights good practiceStaff at Waikato DHB hospitals and other facilities are asking most of their patients if they smoke and providing 47 per cent of smokers with help to quit. The quarter three health target results were released nationally today, ranking Waikato District Health Board sixth equal out of the 21 district health boards. “Although the result has improved from 40 per cent to 47 per cent between the two quarters, and improved further with last month’s result being almost 55 per cent, this result is the frustrating one,” said Waikato DHB chief executive Craig Climo. “Whereas the other indicators have various systems complexities that bear on them, the smoking target is simply about hospital health professionals asking if the person smokes and offering help. It is quick and easily recorded. “Patients and their families are strongly influenced by health professionals and are at their most amenable to lifestyle change when dealing with health issues. We can play a major part in helping the public with what is the single biggest health-related lifestyle decision they will make. “Within that result, some areas are doing very well and I thank them.” Smokefree Hospitals’ coordinator Kate Dallas said it was encouraging to see improvements towards the 80 per cent target, although progress was slow. “Some wards have made great headway towards reaching the target and are making a concerted effort to fill in the appropriate paperwork,” she said. “I suspect that more than 47 per cent of patients are offered help to quit smoking but the paperwork isn’t being followed through, which affects the data. “Already quarter four is looking more positive so we will all keep aiming for the ultimate 95 per cent target to be reached by June 2012.” She said an example of a Waikato Hospital ward that showed good results in April, is the Medical Day Stay Unit which achieved 82 per cent. Medical Day Stay Unit clinical nurse manager Julia Cleaver said the health target was a positive initiative given the effect smoking has on health. “If we intervene as medical professionals and help only a few people become smokefree, we are making a difference, and since many of our patients are regular visitors, intervention is even more significant to them. “It’s important to me and to my staff that our offer to help doesn’t come across as judgemental or threatening and that the patient never feels uncomfortable. “Some people don’t want to quit smoking and that’s fine, but there are many who do, so this health target helps us concentrate on them.” She urges potential smoking patients to ask for help if they want it. “Don’t feel threatened by the question, or afraid to give up. We won’t lecture you, but support you if you wish to quit – if you don’t, that’s ok.” NB: See Health Waikato’s smoking health target progress table for April below. Table 7: Total episodes, total smokers and those offered interventions in Health Waikato hospitals, by hospital, discharged during April 2010.
Source: Hospitalisations database (Costpro) Retrieved 13/05/10 at 01:33pm using codes F171, F172, Z720 and Z716. Only data on appropriate wards was extracted. ENDS Date: 19 May 2010 Contact: Mary Anne Gill
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