research_brief

Cotinine Testing as a Component of Screening for Tobacco use in a Pediatric Hospital

Authors

• • Kelsey K Schmuhl
  • Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University
• • Alexander S Golec
• • Andrea E Bonny
• • Brittny E Manos
• • Ashley L Merianos
• • Samuel W Stull
• • Ashley M Ebersole

Abstract

The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to assess documented nicotine use history, withdrawal, and intervention with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for patients admitted to a quaternary children’s hospital who tested positive for cotinine. Patients tested positive for cotinine during 26 of 220 (12%) admissions in which cotinine testing was done. The electronic medical records (EMRs) of these 26 admissions (25 eligible patients; one patient admitted twice) were reviewed for documentation of tobacco product use history, cotinine urine test results, nicotine-related withdrawal symptoms, and prescription of NRT. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Most patients were admitted for overdose or intentional ingestion. 25 of 26 (96%) had tobacco use history documented, and eight (32%) had incongruent documentation. Two patients (50%) with documented nicotine withdrawal were prescribed NRT. This study illustrates missed opportunities to engage patients in addressing tobacco use.

Keywords: Cotinine, tobacco use, nicotine use, pediatric, nicotine replacement therapy, vaping

How to Cite: Schmuhl, K. K. , Golec, A. S. , Bonny, A. E. , Manos, B. E. , Merianos, A. L. , Stull, S. W. & Ebersole, A. M. (2025) “Cotinine Testing as a Component of Screening for Tobacco use in a Pediatric Hospital”, Health Behavior Research. 8(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.4148/2572-1836.1284