QualityProject Smoking Cessation in Periodontal Patients
Problem Statement
Scope of problem: Approximately 40% of patients requiring treatment requiring treatment for periodontal disease use tobacco. Tobacco use increases that rate of 'loss of attachment' (a marker for poor oral health), damages healthy periodontal tissue, and delays wound healing after periodontal therapy.
Setting: Private periodontist's office
Aims: Our general aim is to improve the treatment of periodontal disease and achieve better outcomes of periodontal therapy through smoking cessation.
Specific Goal: We will seek a self-reported 50% quit-rate among smokers by 6-months after presentation to the periodontist for care. This will be achieved by a 10-15 minute smoking cessation counseling cessation as well as the provision of a prescription for Chantix.
Process and Prioritization
Process Affected: smoking cessation to improve outcomes in periodontal treatment
Measure(s): 1. percentage of smoking patients who report filling and taking the prescription as prescribed 2. percentage of smoking patients who report cessation at 4-6 weeks after initial visit 3. percentage of smoking patients who report cessation at 6 months after initial visit
Intervention
Plan: develop smoking cessation counseling script
Do: offer 10-15 minute smoking cessation counseling and prescription for Chantix to first 10 patients who present
Study: evaluate effectiveness of counseling and evaluate whether or not prescriptions are filled
Act: either revise counseling script (if needed), or implement to all new patients presenting for periodontal care
Reference
- Position paper: tobacco use and the periodontal patient. Research, Science and Therapy Committee of the American Academy of Periodontology. Journal of Periodontology 1999 Nov;70(11):1419-27.
- GK Johnson, M Hill. Cigarette Smoking and the Periodontal Patient: State of the Art Review. Journal of Periodontology 2004 Feb;75(2): 196-209.
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