Understanding Dutch practice nurses' adherence to evidence-based smoking cessation guidelines and their needs for web-based adherence support: results from semistructured interviews.

OBJECTIVES: Practice nurses in general practices suboptimally adhere to smoking cessation guidelines. Since the effectiveness of their smoking cessation support is greatest when full adherence to these guidelines is achieved, interventions need to be developed to improve practice nurses' guideline adherence, for example, by tailoring their content to adherence determinants. However, the sociocognitive determinants explaining adherence have not yet been investigated. Therefore, this qualitative needs assessment aimed to explore practice nurses' current counselling practices, as well as their sociocognitive beliefs related to their smoking cessation guideline adherence and their needs regarding web-based adherence support. SETTING: Primary care; general practices in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: 19 practice nurses, actively involved in smoking cessation counselling. METHODS: Semistructured individual interviews, based on the I-Change Model and the Diffusion of Innovations Theory, were conducted from May to September 2014. Data were systematically analysed using the Framework Method and considered reliable (κ 0.77; % agreement 99%). RESULTS: Respondents felt able to be empathic and collaborative during smoking cessation consultations. They also reported psychological (eg, low self-efficacy to increase patient motivation and arranging adequate follow-up consultations) and practical barriers (eg, outdated information on quit support compensation and a perceived lack of high-quality trainings for practice nurses) to smoking cessation guideline adherence. Most respondents were interested in web-based adherence support to overcome these barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Sociocognitive determinants influence practice nurses' smoking cessation guideline adherence. To improve their adherence, web-based tailored adherence support can provide practice nurses with personally relevant feedback tailored to individually perceived barriers to smoking cessation guideline adherence. More specifically, low self-efficacy levels can be increased by peer modelling (eg, presenting narratives of colleagues) and up-to-date information can be presented online, enabling practice nurses to use it during patient consultations, resulting in more effective communication with their smoking patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NTR4436; Pre-results.

Web-based computer-tailoring for practice nurses aimed to improve smoking cessation guideline adherence: A study protocol for a randomized controlled effectiveness trial.

BACKGROUND: Dutch practice nurses sub-optimally adhere to evidence-based smoking cessation guidelines. Web-based computer-tailoring could be effective in improving their guideline adherence. Therefore, this paper aims to describe the development of a web-based computer-tailored program and the design of a randomized controlled trial testing its (cost-)effectiveness. METHODS: Theoretically grounded in the I-Change Model and Self-Determination Theory, and based on the results of a qualitative needs assessment among practice nurses, a web-based computer-tailored program was developed including three modules with tailored advice, an online forum, modules with up-to-date information about smoking cessation, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and project information, and a counseling checklist. The program's effects are assessed by comparing an intervention group (access to all modules) with a control group (access to FAQs, project information and counseling checklist only). Smoking cessation guideline adherence and behavioral predictors (i.e. intention, knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy, social influence, action and coping planning) are measured at baseline and at 6- and 12-month follow-up. Additionally, the program's indirect effects on smokers' quit rates and the number of quit attempts are assessed after 6 and 12months. DISCUSSION: This paper describes the development of a web-based computer-tailored adherence support program for practice nurses and the study design of a randomized controlled trial testing its (cost-)effectiveness. This program potentially contributes to improving the quality of smoking cessation care in Dutch general practices. If proven effective, the program could be adapted for use by other healthcare professionals, increasing the public health benefits of improved smoking cessation counseling for smokers.

Results of the PAS Study: A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Web-Based Multiple Tailored Smoking Cessation Program Combined With Tailored Counseling by Practice Nurses.

This study investigated the effects of Web-based multiple computer tailoring and counseling by a practice nurse (MTC) compared with computer tailoring without counseling (MT) and usual care (UC) on smoking cessation rates, via a randomized controlled trial with 414 Dutch adult smokers, recruited by 91 practice nurses from May 2009 to June 2010. Logistic multilevel regression analyses were conducted with 24-hour point prevalence, 7-day point prevalence, and prolonged abstinence after 6 and 12 months as dependent variables and experimental condition as the independent variable. After 6 and 12 months, 38% and 56% of respondents were followed up, respectively. At both follow-ups, no main effects of the interventions could be identified when comparing them with care as usual and with each other-neither in analyses using available data nor in analyses using a negative scenario in which respondents lost to follow-up were considered to still be smoking. A Web-based multiple computer-tailored smoking cessation program combined with a single face-to-face counseling session by a practice nurse may not be more effective than this computer-tailored program alone or than usual smoking cessation care in the general practice setting. Yet before concluding that the addition of counseling to Web-based computer tailoring cannot be successful, more research needs to be conducted to identify the optimal number of counseling sessions to be combined with the Web-based program and to how to best attune the two modalities.

Combining intensive practice nurse counselling or brief general practitioner advice with varenicline for smoking cessation in primary care: study protocol of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Combining behavioural support and pharmacotherapy is most effective for smoking cessation and recommended in clinical guidelines. Despite that smoking cessation assistance from the general practitioner can be effective, dissemination of clinical practice guidelines and efforts on upskilling has not lead to the routine provision of smoking cessation advice among general practitioners. Intensive counselling from the practice nurse could contribute to better smoking cessation rates in primary care. However, the effectiveness of intensive counselling from a practice nurse versus usual care from a general practitioner in combination with varenicline is still unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A pragmatic randomized controlled trial was conducted comparing: (a) intensive individual counselling delivered by a practice nurse and (b) brief advice delivered by a general practitioner; both groups received 12-weeks of open-label varenicline. A minimum of 272 adult daily smoking participants were recruited and treated in their routine primary care setting. The primary outcome was defined as prolonged abstinence from weeks 9 to 26, biochemically validated by exhaled carbon monoxide. Data was analysed blinded according to the intention-to-treat principle and participants with missing data on their smoking status at follow-up were counted as smokers. Secondary outcomes included: one-year prolonged abstinence, short-term incremental cost-effectiveness, medication adherence, and baseline predictors of successful smoking cessation. DISCUSSION: This trial is the first to provide scientific evidence on the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and potential mechanisms of action of intensive practice nurse counselling combined with varenicline under real-life conditions. This paper explains the methodology of the trial and discusses the pragmatic and/or explanatory design aspects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Dutch Trial Register NTR3067.

How to encourage smokers to participate in web-based computer-tailored smoking cessation programs: a comparison of different recruitment strategies.

The reach, retention and costs of four strategies aimed to recruit smokers for participation in a computer-tailored smoking cessation intervention was explored. The study was part of a randomized controlled trial whereby 832 respondents were randomized to three conditions. Smokers were invited by general practitioners (GPs), newspapers, Internet and other strategies (i.e. mailing organizations) to take part. ANOVA's/Chi-square tests explored sample differences. Logistic regression analyses investigated differences between the samples regarding retention and smoking behaviour. Smokers recruited via GPs (N = 144) had a lower educational level and suffered more from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease compared with respondents recruited via Internet (N = 307) (χ(2) = 11.554, df = 3, P = 0.009). Less motivated respondents recruited by GPs were more likely to return to study compared with the less motivated respondents recruited by 'other recruitment' strategies (χ(2) = 6.416, df = 3, P = 0.093). Highly addicted respondents recruited from newspapers (N = 213) were less likely to make a quit attempt compared with highly addicted respondents recruited by GPs (OR = 0.334, P = 0.035). Females from newspapers were less likely to remain abstinent compared with the GP sample (OR = 0.337, P = 0.005). Recruitment via GPs showed highest costs. Recruitment strategy influenced the type of smokers. Group differences were associated with different patterns of quitting.

Does a typical contemplator exist? Three clusters of smokers in contemplation.

The aim of this study is to test whether subtypes exist among smokers in contemplation. Data from 194 adult smokers that participated in a randomized controlled trial testing the effectiveness of a computer-tailored smoking cessation program in Dutch general practices were used for secondary analysis. Cluster analysis was conducted based on baseline scores on pros and cons of quitting and self-efficacy to quit. Clusters were cross-sectionally compared for demographic variables and smoking characteristics with analyses of variance (ANOVA) and Chi-square tests. Logistic and multinomial regression analyses were used for longitudinal comparison for smoking behavior and stage of change at 6 months follow-up. Three clusters were identified: Early, Progressing and Disengaged Contemplators. Clusters differed significantly on all clustering variables (P < 0.001). Disengaged smokers were significantly less addicted than Early Contemplators. Cluster membership was not predictive of outcome measures. No subtype was identified representing the Classic Contemplator, scoring high on both pros and cons of quitting and low on self-efficacy, as found in previous studies among US samples. The predictive validity of the clusters found was limited.