Evaluating Effective Methods for Referral for Smoking Cessation Counseling and High Blood Pressure Follow-up

Johns Hopkins University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Hypertension; Smoking Cessation

Treatments: Behavioral: Referral to smoking quit line; Behavioral: Referral to primary care physician for hypertension control

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03020836

NA_00089710

Details and patient eligibility

About

Investigators conducted a clinic-based study to determine the magnitude of uncontrolled hypertension and current smoking in eye doctor's offices and sought to determine if referral to care results in actions taken by the patient.

Full description

Smoking and hypertension are two modifiable risk factors that are linked to highly prevalent chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The ophthalmology waiting room has the potential to be an effective point of intervention to provide referral to primary care in addition to health education on preventive health topics.

The investigators therefore, conducted a clinic-based study to determine the magnitude of uncontrolled hypertension and current smoking in eye doctor's offices and to determine if referral to care results in actions taken by the patient.

The investigators determined the proportion of patients who have elevated blood pressure. Patients were referred appropriately and the proportion of participants who followed the recommendation to meet with their primary care doctor for elevated blood pressure at 4-6 weeks and 8-10 weeks was determined. In addition, those who consented to be in the study and admitted to smoking cigarettes were offered smoking cessation assistance through a quit line. Investigators also followed up on cigarette smoking at 4-6 weeks and 8-10 weeks.

Enrollment: 473 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients >18 years of age presenting to the glaucoma service and general eye service at Wilmer Eye Institute.

Exclusion criteria

• Non-English speakers
• Unable to provide written informed consent

Trial design

Primary purpose: Screening

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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473 participants in 2 patient groups

Hypertension patient referral

Other group

Description:

Referral to primary care physician for hypertension control: Patients with uncontrolled hypertension were referred to a primary care physician for treatment.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Referral to primary care physician for hypertension control

Smoking cessation patient referral

Other group

Description:

Referral to smoking quit line: Patients that were current smokers were referred to the Maryland smoking cessation quit line if they were willing.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Referral to smoking quit line