Smoke-free recovery: development of an online smoking cessation program for orthopaedic trauma patients

Continued tobacco smoking after orthopaedic trauma surgery can have a negative impact on health outcomes. Despite this, limited research has been conducted with the orthopaedic trauma population to determine current rates of care, and interest in receiving help to quit during hospital admission. Further, rates of current tobacco smoking among the orthopaedic trauma population has previously been found to be high, indicating a need to address rates of smoking in this population. The implementation of hospital smoke-free policy in Australia mandates the provision of smoking cessation care for all patients, and that the hospital admission may provide an ideal time when individuals are receptive to health messages. Despite this, implementation of hospital smoke-free policy has been found to be low, with care previously found to be sub-optimal. The aim of this thesis was to explore the current provision of care, the barriers faced by staff, and possible factors which may help address hospital smoke-free policy. The development and pilot testing of an online smoking cessation program designed specifically for orthopaedic trauma patients is described. Competing priorities and comorbid conditions in the lives of orthopaedic trauma patients were identified as complicating smoking cessation treatment and are discussed.