QIM 2: Proportion of regular clients with a current smoking status recorded in their GP record
Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of preventable diseases and death in Australia. Smoking was responsible for 9.3% of the total burden of disease in Australia in 2015, making it the leading risk factor contributing to disease burden. Almost three-quarters (73%) of the burden from smoking was due to premature death (AIHW 2019a). Successful public health strategies over many decades have resulted in a significant decline in daily smoking proportions. Despite these positive changes, the harm from tobacco smoking continues to affect current smokers and ex-smokers, as well as non-smokers through their exposure to second-hand smoke (AIHW 2019a).
Capture of results recorded outside of the general practices
Where a smoking status was recorded elsewhere and the information is not recorded in the clinical information system of the client’s usual general practice then these data may not be captured in the report. For example, this might be a result from a smoking rehabilitation centre or community health centre where the information systems may not be compatible with the clinical information system of the client’s usual general practice.
Other sources of relevant data
Data on prevalence of health risk factors such as smoking status are captured in the National Health Survey (NHS) conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) conducted by the AIHW and the survey on smoking conducted by the Cancer Council Victoria.
This indicator contains 2 parts:
-
QIM 2a: Proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over whose smoking status has been recorded in their GP record:
-
QIM 2b: Proportion of regular clients aged 15 years and over whose smoking status has been recorded in their GP record (in the last 12 months for those aged 15–29 and at least once since turning 30 for those aged 30 and over) as one of the following: current smoker, ex-smoker or never smoked.
QIM2a: Regional Proportions
As of July 2022, nationally, 64.2% of regular clients aged 15 years and over had their smoking status recorded in their GP record (where recorded means in the previous 12 months for those aged 15–29 and since the age of 30 for those aged 30 years and over). This varied from 58.7% to 73.7% across PHNs.