‘Strong for Surgery’ program reduces preop smoking rates

Editor's Note

A new study finds a big drop in smoking rates when surgeons get involved in helping patients quit before surgery through the "Strong for Surgery" program. The study was presented July 23 at the 2017 American College of Surgeons (ACS) Quality and Safety Conference.

Strong for Surgery is a preoperative health optimization program started by the University of Washington, Seattle, in 2012, and in 2016, ACS became the national home for the program

In this analysis of 24,000 patients in Washington State, the proportion who smoked in 2011 was 36%, compared with 12% in 2016. Smoking cessation counseling increased from 6.14% in 2012 to 42% in 2016.

Efforts are underway for ACS to expand the Strong for Surgery program nationwide.

New ACS quality improvement program is linked to a two-thirds decrease in the rate of smoking in patients undergoing cervical and lumbar spine procedures.