SMOKE-FREE FAMILIES PEDIATRICS PROJECT
To reduce smoke exposure and unsafe sleep environments for children less than 12 months old, the Ohio Smoke Free Families Pediatrics Project seeks to screen caregivers about smoking or vaping, and identify unsafe sleep practices in pediatric settings. Providers involved in this project uses evidence-based practices to address women postpartum and their families on tobacco use and unsafe sleep practices and connect caregivers to appropriate resources and counseling services. Some highlighted achievements from this project include:
- Engaged 48 practices in 20 counties across Ohio as of August 2020;
- More than 20,000 screening tools were completed for over 11,000 infants;
- Counseling, resources, or a referral was provided to 73.8% caregivers who reported smoking or vaping at their initial well-child visit;
- 68% of practices implemented the screening tool so that at least 90% of caregivers were asked about the child’s exposure to smoking/vaping and unsafe sleep environments;
- 88% and 67% of practices advised and assisted smoking caregivers and other smokers in the home, respectively, by offering smoking/vaping cessation resources to at least 80% of individuals that screened positive;
- 65% of participating practices arranged caregiver referrals, primarily to the Ohio Quit Line, for at least 80% of those who screened positive for smoking/vaping and were ready to quit;
- About half of caregivers who reported smoking or vaping at their infant’s initial visit during the project period reported cutting back or quitting by their second visit; and
- Approximately half of infants who had some unsafe sleep practices at their initial visit during the project period had improved sleep practices by their second visit.
In collaboration with the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Ohio Colleges of Medicine Government Resource developed a screening tool to screen caregivers and track interventions. Participating sites also receive training on the Ohio Smoke Free Families provider change package, evidence-based intervention the “5 A’s” and the “5 R’s”, motivational interviewing and one-on-one counseling, and assistance in effectively implementing these tools and interventions at their sites.
Provider toolkits are available for download at www.ohiosmokefreefamilies.org
This project is funded by Ohio Department of Health and Ohio Department of Medicaid.