Brief Report: The effect of implementing a tobacco treatment service on adherence to evidence-based practice in an inpatient state-owned psychiatric hospital

Background and Objectives: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requires reporting of specific tobacco treatment (TT) measures. We examined compliance to these measures before and after initiation of a specialized TT service in a state-psychiatric hospital. Methods: Using a retrospective analysis, patient records (N = 3669) were examined, using one-way ANOVAs, for changes in rates of tobacco use screening and treatment between September–December 2015 (pre-implementation of CMS requirements), and January–April, May–August, and September–December 2016 (post-implementation of the CMS requirements). Results: We found significant increases, between Sep–Dec 2015 and Sep–Dec 2016, in the rates of tobacco use screening (93.4–95.3%, F [3, 12] = 7.39, p =.005), offering TT counseling (68.1–76.5%, F [1] = 18.59, p =.001) and medications (71.7–76.5%, F [1] = 5.86, p =.032). Conclusions and Significance: Our findings can provide guidance to enhance compliance with TT measures in psychiatric settings. (Am J Addict 2018;27:368–371).