An EPIC Based BPA to Enhance Quit Line Referral and Use

Smoking is the number one cause of preventable death in the United States. Given the magnitude of the problem, interventions aimed at promoting smoking cessation have the potential to make large changes in improving health outcomes. Resources to aid with smoking cessation such as telephone-based counseling are generally underutilized. The electronic medical record (EMR) in use at Johns Hopkins has limited decision support to promote referral to the Maryland Quit Line, a free smoking cessation counseling resource. The investigators propose a cluster randomized trial (Implementation-RCT hybrid design) with a waitlist control at the 22 Johns Hopkins Community Physicians (JHCP) sites, which offer primary care. The intervention will include a multi-modality intervention to promote provider use of smoking cessation resources which include an Epic-based Best Practice Advisory (BPA) that allows providers to electronically refer to the Maryland State Quit Line, educational materials, and provider visits with Quit Line representatives to review use of smoking cessation practices. Sites will be randomized to one of three arms with increasing support: 1) six-month waitlist control; 2) BPA with optional educational modules; 3) BPA with online educational modules, a quick-reference educational document, and additional visit with Quit Line representatives. The investigators hypothesize that by implementing a new Epic BPA that allows providers to easily refer to the Maryland Quit Line electronically, The investigators will increase use of this resource. The investigators also hypothesize that adding additional educational materials and having Quit Line representatives perform educational outreach visits will further increase use of the Quit Line and will increase prescription of medications to assist with smoking cessation. Ultimately, the investigators hope to improve patient care by increasing providers' use the Maryland Quit Line and pharmacotherapy. The investigators hope that the use of these resources will decrease smoking rates and thereby improve patient health and outcomes while improving JHCP quality metrics.

The primary goal of this study is to test the effectiveness of instituting an Epic BPA in increasing Maryland Quit Line referrals. The secondary goals are to measure the BPA's effect and the effect of additional provider education on patient engagement with the Quit Line, and on prescription of medications that aid in smoking cessation.

Aim 1: In a three-arm, cluster randomized trial, to test the effectiveness of an Epic BPA with provider educational support and provider detailing in provision of smoking cessation services.

Hypothesis 1: An Epic-based BPA to prompt providers to electronically refer people who are ready to quit smoking to the Maryland Quit Line will increase use of this service compared to waitlist control.

Hypothesis 2: An Epic-based BPA supplemented with educational materials and academic detailing will increase Quit-Line referral compared to control.