Feasibility of a Perioperative Text Messaging Smoking Cessation Program for Surgical Patients

• Published in: Anesthesia and analgesia Vol. 129; no. 3; p. e73
• Main Authors: Nolan, Margaret B, Warner, Matthew A, Jacobs, Megan A, Amato, Michael S, Graham, Amanda L, Warner, David O
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-09-2019
• Subjects: Adult; Cigarette Smoking - psychology; Cigarette Smoking - therapy; Feasibility Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Satisfaction; Perioperative Care - methods; Perioperative Care - psychology; Pilot Projects; Program Evaluation - methods; Smoking Cessation - methods; Smoking Cessation - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Text Messaging
• ISSN: 1526-7598
• DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000003715

Although surgical patients who smoke could benefit from perioperative abstinence, few currently receive support. This pilot study determined the feasibility and acceptability of a perioperative text messaging smoking cessation program. One hundred patients (73% of eligible patients approached) enrolled in a surgery-specific messaging service, receiving 1-3 daily messages about smoking and surgical recovery for 30 days. Only 17 patients unenrolled, the majority responded to prompting messages, and satisfaction with the program was high. Surgical patients are amenable to text message-based interventions; a future efficacy trial of text messaging smoking cessation support in surgical patients is warranted.