BACKGROUND: Research is needed to identify how clinical decision support (CDS) systems can support communication about and engagement with tobacco use treatment in pediatric settings for parents who smoke. We developed a CDS system that identifies parents who smoke, delivers motivational messages to start treatment, connects parents to treatment, and supports pediatrician-parent discussion.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the performance of this system in clinical practice, including receipt of motivational messages and tobacco use treatment acceptance rates.

METHODS: The system was evaluated at one large pediatric practice through a single-arm pilot study from June-November 2021. We collected data on the performance of the CDS system for all parents. Additionally, we surveyed a sample of parents immediately after the clinical encounter who used the system and reported smoking. Measures were: 1) the parent remembered the motivational message, 2) the pediatrician reinforced the message, and 3) treatment acceptance rates. Treatments included nicotine replacement therapy, quitline referral (phone counseling), and/or SmokefreeTXT referral (text-message counseling). We described survey response rates overall and with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS: During the entire study period, 8488 parents completed use of the CDS: 9.3% (n=786) reported smoking, and 48.2% (n=379) accepted at least one treatment. One hundred and two parents who smoke who used the system were approached to survey 100 parents (98% response rate). Most parents self-identified as female (84%), aged 25-34 years (56%), and Black/African American (94%), and had children with Medicaid insurance (95%). Of parents surveyed, 54% accepted at least one treatment option. Most parents recalled the motivational message (79%; 95% CI: 71-87%), and 31% (95% CI: 19-44%) reported the pediatrician reinforced the motivational message.

CONCLUSION: A CDS system to support parental tobacco use treatment in pediatric primary care enhanced motivational messaging about smoking cessation and evidence-based treatment initiation.

BACKGROUND: Research is needed to identify how clinical decision support (CDS) systems can support communication about and engagement with tobacco use treatment in pediatric settings for parents who smoke. We developed a CDS system that identifies parents who smoke, delivers motivational messages to start treatment, connects parents to treatment, and supports pediatrician-parent discussion.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the performance of this system in clinical practice, including receipt of motivational messages and tobacco use treatment acceptance rates.

METHODS: The system was evaluated at one large pediatric practice through a single-arm pilot study from June-November 2021. We collected data on the performance of the CDS system for all parents. Additionally, we surveyed a sample of parents immediately after the clinical encounter who used the system and reported smoking. Measures were: 1) the parent remembered the motivational message, 2) the pediatrician reinforced the message, and 3) treatment acceptance rates. Treatments included nicotine replacement therapy, quitline referral (phone counseling), and/or SmokefreeTXT referral (text-message counseling). We described survey response rates overall and with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS: During the entire study period, 8488 parents completed use of the CDS: 9.3% (n=786) reported smoking, and 48.2% (n=379) accepted at least one treatment. One hundred and two parents who smoke who used the system were approached to survey 100 parents (98% response rate). Most parents self-identified as female (84%), aged 25-34 years (56%), and Black/African American (94%), and had children with Medicaid insurance (95%). Of parents surveyed, 54% accepted at least one treatment option. Most parents recalled the motivational message (79%; 95% CI: 71-87%), and 31% (95% CI: 19-44%) reported the pediatrician reinforced the motivational message.

CONCLUSION: A CDS system to support parental tobacco use treatment in pediatric primary care enhanced motivational messaging about smoking cessation and evidence-based treatment initiation.