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APA to Conduct Survey Related to Smoking Cessation

Individuals with psychiatric disorders are responsible for approximately half of all cigarette consumption in the United States, placing them at significant risk for negative health outcomes. In fact, compared to people without mental disorders, those with mental disorders account for a substantially larger proportion of illnesses associated with tobacco use, like cardiovascular disease and cancer. Despite these facts, widespread treatment of tobacco use disorder (TUD) by psychiatrists is lagging due to gaps in the training and availability of tobacco treatment programs and materials for referral. To help address these gaps and reduce the presence of TUD among psychiatric populations, the APA has launched the Psychiatry Undertaking Freedom from Smoking (PUFFS) initiative, supported by the Smoking Cessation Leadership Center, a national program office of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

As part of the initiative, the APA Workgroup on Tobacco Use Disorder was convened as a panel of tobacco cessation experts in psychiatry from around the country. These thought leaders are tasked with clarifying existing problems in the treatment of TUD across psychiatry, generating ideas about how to close identified gaps, and developing a strategic plan to guide the APA in aiding its members moving forward. Among several key tactics being developed by the Workgroup is a survey of APA psychiatrists to help the APA better understand psychiatrists’ current practices and experiences in the screening and treatment of TUD.

Prior to launch of the official survey, the Workgroup is first pilot testing the survey amongst 100 randomly selected APA members. The selected psychiatrists will be contacted via email, informed of the purpose of the study, and invited to complete the confidential, 15-minute online survey. All practicing psychiatrists who provide direct patient care and complete the online questionnaire will receive a $25 gift certificate as a token of our appreciation.

Emails to the selected APA members will be sent out starting on Thursday, June 11. Members are encouraged to take advantage of this brief, simple activity as a way to help the APA give psychiatrists the information and tools needed for patients to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. Findings from the pilot study will inform APA programs on tobacco use treatment and will be presented at the 2016 APA Annual Meeting.