The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that nearly 20% of adults currently use tobacco products [1]. Although the Food and Drug Administration-approved quit medications, which can boost quit rates by 50-70%, their use is often underutilized [2]. To enhance awareness and support successful quitting, CenCal Health has partnered with the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Tobacco Control Programs to develop tobacco cessation posters and rack cards. These materials emphasize that quit medications are covered by CenCal Health with a prescription and outline the steps members can take to seek assistance in quitting. To request these health education materials, or for further information, please email healtheducation@cencalhealth.org.
Best Practices[3]:
- Ask all adolescents, adults, and pregnant patients if they are current tobacco product users or exposed to tobacco smoke. Specifically ask about the use of vapes/e-cigarettes.
- Document patient tobacco use utilizing one of the following identification methods:
- Add tobacco use as a vital sign in the chart or EMR
- Use ICD-10 codes in the medical record
- Place a chart stamp in the medical chart
- If identified as a tobacco product user, discuss smoking cessation regimens (quitting options) with the patient.
- Once you establish the appropriate cessation regimen for the patient, prescribe the appropriateccessation agent.
- Refer patient to individual, group, and telephonic counseling such as Kick It CA or other local programs. Counseling is strongly recommended for cessation success.
Figure 1: Rack Cards
Figure 2: Poster
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/php/data-statistics/adult-data-cigarettes/index.html
[2] https://www.rstreet.org/research/beyond-nicotine-replacement-therapy-smoking-cessation-for-older-americans/
[3] https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/formsandpubs/Documents/MMCDAPLsandPolicyLetters/APL2016/APL16-014.pdf