This project aims to reduce the prevalence of tobacco smoking in people with severe
mental illness, which is a major contributor to the early mortality suffered by this
population. This project consists of three work packages that will be used to update
clinical guidelines, develop clinical resources, and pilot an integrated smoking
cessation service within two mental health services.
Work package 1 will undertake a national survey of the current practices in mental
health services aimed at supporting service users to reduce or cease tobacco
smoking and vaping. Additionally, a survey of service user’s experiences and
preferences for receiving support for smoking cessation will be conducted.
Work package 2 will update the National Clinical Guidelines on smoking cessation
and will develop a clinical decision support aid and treatment algorithm for the
pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of smoking cessation for
people with severe mental illness. Informational resources, such as videos and
brochures, will be co-developed separately for clinicians and service users on
smoking cessation interventions.
Work package 3 will co-develop and evaluate an integrated smoking cessation
service within three distinct settings within two mental health services, specifically an
inpatient unit, day hospital and community mental health service. The intervention will
adhere to a bio-psych-social model and provide a comprehensive approach to
smoking cessation. The acceptability and feasibility of the service will be evaluated by
attendance and engagement rates, qualitative interviews with service users and a
clinician survey.
This project will result in an updated national clinical guideline, resources for service
users and clinicians on optimising smoking cessation interventions and an evaluation
of a pilot service. These outputs will be incorporated into the future clinical guidelines
for the management of psychosis and the model of care for early intervention for
psychosis to reduce smoking in the population with the highest prevalence.
