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Journal of Public Health Advance Access published online on April 24, 2007
Journal of Public Health, doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdm015
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© The Author 2007, Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved

Computerized assessment of surgical patients for tobacco use: accuracy and acceptability


Luke Wolfenden, Program Manager, Conjoint Lecturer1,2,
Angela Dalton, Projects Officer1
Jenny Bowman, Senior Lecturer2
Jenny Knight, Program Manager, Conjoint Lecturer1,2
Sally Burrows, Senior Statistician1
John Wiggers, Director, Senior Lecturer1,2

1 Hunter New-England Population Health, Hunter New-England Area Health Service, Locked Bag 10, Wallsend 2298, NSW, Australia
2 The University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia


Address correspondence to Luke Wolfenden, E-mail: luke.wolfenden{at}hnehealth.nsw.gov.au

Background Despite increased risks of postoperative complications among patients who use tobacco, a number of barriers hinder the systematic identification of surgical patients who smoke. The study investigated the accuracy and acceptability of a patient-completed touchscreen computer program, which assessed patient smoking status during attendance at a surgical pre-operative clinic.

Methods One thousand and four patients participated in the study and completed a touchscreen computer smoking assessment program.

Results The sensitivity and specificity measures of the computerized assessment were 93% and 95%  respectively. Patients, and clinic receptionists, nurses and anaesthetists found the touchscreen computer-based assessment acceptable.

Conclusions The findings suggest that computerized assessment of smoking status is an accurate and acceptable way to identify tobacco users in a pre-operative clinic setting.

Keywords: screening, smoking, surgery, validity


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