RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Assessing Tobacco Status in Community Health Centers
JF The Annals of Family Medicine
JO Ann Fam Med
FD American Academy of Family Physicians
SP 161
OP 164
DO 10.1370/afm.2948
VO 21
IS 2
A1 Susan A. Flocke
A1 Nathalie Huguet
A1 Steffani R. Bailey
A1 Tahlia Hodes
A1 Jean P. O’Malley
YR 2023
UL http://www.annfammed.org/content/21/2/161.abstract
AB Few have studied the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on tobacco use status assessment and cessation counseling. Electronic health record data from 217 primary care clinics were examined from January 1, 2019 to July 31, 2021. Data included telehealth and in-person visits for 759,138 adult patients (aged ≥18 years). Monthly rates of tobacco assessment per 1,000 patients were calculated. From March 2020 to May 2020, tobacco assessment monthly rates declined by 50% and increased from June 2020 to May 2021 but remained 33.5% lower than pre-pandemic levels. Rates of tobacco cessation assistance changed less, but remain low. These findings are significant given the relevance of tobacco use to increased severity of COVID-19.