Electronic Proactive Outreach for Smokers With COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common respiratory diseases, with 90% of cases directly attributable to smoking. Unfortunately, many patients continue to smoke and have an urgent need to quit. Proactive tobacco treatment programs identify patients outside of a routine clinical appointment and engage them in making a supported quit attempt. Most previous research of proactive tobacco treatment has used telephone outreach, which can be resource intensive. Electronic methods (texting, secure messaging) may be effective while requiring fewer resources. In this study, the investigators will adapt a clinically available motivational texting program with content tailored to smokers with COPD. First, information will be gathered from smokers with COPD and the medical staff who care for them to adapt the program for electronic delivery. Then, the program will be pilot-tested. Smokers with COPD will be randomly assigned to either usual medical care or the outreach intervention, with goals to increase participation in smoking cessation programs, quit attempts, and successful cessation.