Increasing Tobacco Use Cessation: Provider Reminders When Used Alone

Provider reminder systems for tobacco cessation include efforts to identify clients who use tobacco products and to prompt providers to discuss and/or to advise clients about quitting. Providers may receive these reminders through chart stickers, vital sign stamps, medical record flow sheets, and checklists. Provider reminders are often combined with other approaches.

Summary of Task Force Recommendations & Findings

The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends provider reminder systems based on sufficient evidence of effectiveness in increasing provider delivery of advice to quit.

Provider reminder systems are recommended:

1. Whether used alone or as part of a multicomponent intervention (Provider Reminder Systems with Provider Education)
2. Across a range of intervention characteristics (chart stickers, checklists, and flowcharts)
3. In a variety of clinical settings and populations

Task Force Finding

Results from the Systematic Reviews

Seven studies qualified for the review.

• Four studies found a median of 32.5 percentage points in determining which clients use tobacco (during periods that extended from 8 to 24 months after beginning the programs).
• The evaluated techniques for prompting providers included chart prompts or stickers, “expanded vital signs” that include status of tobacco use, and flow sheets.
• These approaches have been shown to be effective in a variety of settings, including primary care and family practice clinics.

Find a Research-tested Intervention Program (RTIP) about the use of provider reminder systems to increase tobacco use cessation (What is an RTIP?).

These findings were based on a systematic review of all available studies, conducted on behalf of the Task Force by a team of specialists in systematic review methods, and in research, practice and policy related to tobacco use.

Supporting Materials

• Research gaps
• Included studies

Publications

Hopkins DP, Briss PA, Ricard CJ. Reviews of evidence regarding interventions to reduce tobacco use and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. [PDF - 6.38MB] Am J Prev Med 2001;20(2S):16–66.

Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Recommendations regarding interventions to reduce tobacco use and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. [PDF - 1.46KB] Am J Prev Med 2001;20(2S):10–5.

Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Tobacco. [PDF - 3.63KB] In : Zaza S, Briss PA, Harris KW, eds. The Guide to Community Preventive Services: What Works to Promote Health? Atlanta (GA): Oxford University Press;2005:3-79.

More Community Guide publications about Tobacco Use

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Sample Citation

The content of publications of the Guide to Community Preventive Services is in the public domain. Citation as to source, however, is appreciated. Sample citation: Guide to Community Preventive Services. Increasing tobacco use cessation: provider reminders when used alone. www.thecommunityguide.org/tobacco/cessation/providerreminders.html. Last updated: MM/DD/YYYY.

Review completed: February 2000