How collecting smoking-related data supported The Buttery to address tobacco use

Tackling Tobacco at The Buttery

The Buttery is a not-for-profit charitable drug and alcohol and mental health organisation that operates in the North and Mid North Coast of NSW. The Buttery commenced in 1973 as a youth drop-in centre for those affected by drug and alcohol concerns and is now an organisation with four residential programs and 12 community outreach programs providing support from Tweed Heads to Port Macquarie. The Buttery provide support for community members, young people aged 10-24 years, adults and their families and carers.

The Buttery applied to complete the Tackling Tobacco program to ensure quit smoking support was consistent across the whole of their organisation. The Buttery’s main goals for Tackling Tobacco were to address smoking by upskilling its staff to provide evidence-based smoking cessation support and Nicotine Replacement Therapy to their community members. The Buttery identified they could improve their impact by routinely recording and monitoring smoking-related data through Tackling Tobacco.

Tackling Tobacco helped The Buttery paint a picture of tobacco use at their organisation

The Buttery updated its existing data collection system by developing a Tackling Tobacco form, which included six questions regarding smoking status, smoking cessation supports provided by staff, and e-cigarette use. These questions were chosen based on the Data Collection and Monitoring Guide, and struck a balance between data utility and time taken for staff to collect data. The Tackling Tobacco Champion said, “Collecting data as part of Tackling Tobacco is a similar process to all other data collection in that it is fully integrated into our MIAMSO client case management system giving staff automated reminders and access to an inbuilt form for quick and easy data entry.” The process involves staff training, implementation, auditing, and interpreting of results. All clinical staff complete the Tackling Tobacco form for the participants they support upon entry and exit of The Buttery’s programs.

The Buttery integrated the form along with task reminders and reports directly into their system. This served as a continual reminder for staff to collect data and made Tackling Tobacco a priority in providing smoking cessation support.

The Buttery’s MIAMSO client case management system allows the IT team to make many modifications themselves. The initial form, reminder system and basic report creation was simple and straightforward and took approximately a week. This was done by an inhouse Systems Coordinator with input from the Tackling Tobacco Steering Committee, as well as commitment from management.

Improving data quality is crucial for ensuring continuity and quality of care

The data collection system allows The Buttery to see which staff members are providing brief advice regarding quitting smoking, and which participants who are receiving support. The Buttery continues to add and improve reports to measure staff’s use of the Tackling Tobacco form. This ensures continuity of care for participants who smoke, and that staff are motivated to continue quality improvement of their activities.

The system also allows them to measure the impacts of the smoking cessation support provided, such as reduction in tobacco use and quit success. The data will eventually be shared with participants and the community, and included in The Buttery’s funding initiatives to demonstrate successes of the Tackling Tobacco program.