Tobacco dependence treatments in hospitals would be more cost effective in the long run

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-08-26 04:00

Australia; VIC

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Aussie researchers say that an embedded tobacco dependence program in hospitals will provide value for money in the end due to the reduction of smoking related infections after surgery. The team looked at how hospitals could reduce the risk of surgical site infections (SSI) and found that if the smoking rate of patients could be reduced then thousands of SSIs could be prevented, and millions of dollars saved due to them not needing additional days in the hospital. The team say that even a reduction of patient smoking rates down to ten or five per cent would provide such a substantial short-term health and economic benefit through the reduction of SSIs, that an embedded program to help people quit should be considered in all Australian hospitals.