Using policy to increase prescribing of smoking cessation medications in the VA healthcare system

Tob Control. 2010 Dec;19(6):507-11. doi: 10.1136/tc.2009.035147. Epub 2010 Sep 24.

Abstract

Background: Since 2002 the US Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system has initiated national policies and programmes to reduce smoking among its patients and to increase evidence-based treatment for smoking.

Objective: To document changes in dispensing rates of cessation-related medications in VA from 2004 to 2008.

Design: Retrospective analysis of VA administrative data.

Results: Prescription fills for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), and for bupropion among NRT users, each grew more than 60% in four years. The increase stemmed primarily from treating more people rather than from filling more prescriptions per person.

Conclusion: The results provide strong support for the efficacy of these policies and illustrate how healthcare systems can successfully employ multiple strategies to increase evidence-based smoking-cessation treatment.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Bupropion / therapeutic use*
  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Health Policy*
  • Humans
  • Nicotine / therapeutic use*
  • Nicotinic Agonists / therapeutic use*
  • Prescriptions / statistics & numerical data
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Smoking Cessation / methods*
  • United States
  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs / statistics & numerical data*

Substances

  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors
  • Nicotinic Agonists
  • Bupropion
  • Nicotine