A. Any Person Encountering the VHA/DoD Health Care Delivery Systems

DEFINITION

Any person who is eligible for care in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) or the Department of Defense (DoD) health care delivery system should be screened for tobacco use as defined in this guideline.

B. Assess Tobacco Status

OBJECTIVE

To determine the person's current use of tobacco.

ANNOTATION

All persons should be asked about their use of tobacco upon visiting any provider. This is easily accomplished when the person's vital signs are taken. The tobacco use status should be noted in the person's record. Repeated assessment is not necessary in the case of the adult who has never used tobacco or has not used tobacco for many years and for whom this information is clearly documented in the medical record. The clinician can proceed further based on clinical relevance and appropriateness.

C. Is Person a Current Tobacco User?

OBJECTIVE

To identify persons who are "tobacco users" as specified in this guideline.

ANNOTATION

A "tobacco user" is a person who answers "yes" when asked whether he or she uses tobacco products.

DISCUSSION

As defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), current tobacco users are persons who report having used tobacco over 100 cigarettes during their lifetime and who used tobacco every day or some days when interviewed. Former tobacco users are those who have used tobacco over 100 cigarettes during their lifetime but who do not use tobacco currently.¹

REFERENCES

¹ MMWR 1997