Lung cancer screening will be hampered by poor recording of searchable smoking terminology in GP computer systems

General practice smoking records will be used to target lung cancer screening in people over 55.1 Although general practitioners generally record when patients have stopped smoking, smoking records in general practice computer systems have been inadequate for years. For example, rather than use the code ceased smoking most practices seem to use the code never smoked when a patient has stopped smoking.2 This causes confusion in the electronic summary visible to clinicians.The number of cigarette pack years is still widely used by clinicians but has drawbacks.3 Years smoked and active smoking are the most useful terms to ascertain risk. It would be helpful for clinical work if years smoked and date ceased were visible with body mass index and blood pressure on the GP electronic summary health screen. Years smoked, however, is not yet an available code. Smoking pack years can, however, be recorded. It may be difficult to calculate…
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