{
  "abstract": "Background Smoking remains a leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality, with documented oral and systemic health impacts. Dental professionals are well positioned to deliver smoking cessation advice, yet confidence and self-efficacy remain barriers. National guidance recommends the ‘Ask, Advise, Act’ Very Brief Advice (VBA) model. This quality improvement project piloted an evidence-based VBA protocol and referral pathway from a secondary dental hospital to community pharmacy smoking cessation services, assessing feasibility, acceptability and early outcomes.Methods The intervention was implemented using NHS Model for Improvement framework and iterative Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) cycles. Care bundles containing VBA prompts, referral forms and patient information leaflets were distributed following staff training. Process measures included documentation of smoking status, delivery of VBA, and completion of referrals. Balancing and outcome measures assessed impact on clinics, staff perceptions, and patient engagement. Quantitative data was supported by qualitative feedback from dental staff, and feedback from patients and pharmacy colleagues is ongoing.Results Baseline audit (n=40) showed smoking status recorded in 97.5% of cases, but cessation advice delivered to only 25% of current smokers, with 12.5% signposted to smoking cessation services. Following implementation, advice increased to 71% and referrals/signposting to 28%. Fourteen patients were referred to pharmacy, of whom twelve consented to follow-up. Two were actively engaged and smoke-free at four weeks. Staff feedback (n=10) indicated the process was quick, simple, and acceptable, with suggested improvements including digital referral options and further training to raise awareness. No negative impact on routine care was reported.Conclusion The intervention was feasible, acceptable, and improved delivery of smoking cessation advice in secondary dental care. Early patient outcomes were encouraging, though referral uptake and engagement at pharmacy remained relatively low. Future PDSA cycles will focus on wider staff and student engagement, more sustainable referral options, and a possible expansion into primary care dental settings.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Dental Public Health, NHS Tayside, Dundee, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Christopher Mackie"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Dental Public Health, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Niall McGoldrick"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Restorative Dentistry, NHS Tayside, Dundee, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Brian Quinn"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Directorate of Public Health, NHS Tayside, Dundee, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Nina Buschmann"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Directorate of Public Health, NHS Tayside, Dundee, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Nicola Birse"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Dental Public Health, NHS Tayside, Dundee, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Morag Muir"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Public Health Pharmacy, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Andrew Radley"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P09-3 Clearing the air: a service improvement feasibility and acceptability pilot study of a smoking cessation referral pathway from secondary dental care",
  "uid": "6f15aaa9-ef54-5b54-a9d4-59f4b031c6db"
}