1. Is a statewide tobacco quitline an appropriate service for specific populations?
- Author
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Maher JE, Rohde K, Dent CW, Stark MJ, Pizacani B, Boysun MJ, Dilley JA, and Yepassis-Zembrou PL
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Counseling methods, Educational Status, Female, Humans, Male, Patient Satisfaction ethnology, Patient Satisfaction statistics & numerical data, Professional-Patient Relations, Sex Factors, Smoking ethnology, Smoking Cessation ethnology, Smoking Cessation statistics & numerical data, Smoking Prevention, Social Class, Urban Health statistics & numerical data, Washington epidemiology, Hotlines, Smoking Cessation methods
- Abstract
Objective: To assess whether smoking quit rates and satisfaction with the Washington State tobacco quitline (QL) services varied by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, area of residence (that is, urban versus non-urban), or sex of Washington QL callers., Methods: From October 2004 into October 2005, we conducted telephone surveys of Washington QL callers about three months after their initial call to the QL. Analyses compared 7-day quit rates and satisfaction measures by race/ethnicity, education level, area of residence and sex (using alpha = 0.05)., Results: We surveyed half (n = 1312) of the 2638 adult smokers we attempted to contact. The 7-day quit rate among survey participants at the 3-month follow-up was 31% (CI: 27.1% to 34.2%), 92% (CI: 89.9% to 94.1%) were somewhat/very satisfied overall with the QL programme, 97% (CI: 95.5% to 98.2%) indicated that they would probably/for sure suggest the QL to others and 95% (CI: 92.9% to 96.4%) were somewhat/very satisfied with the QL specialist. Quit rate did not vary significantly by race/ethnicity, education level, area of residence or sex. Satisfaction levels were high across subpopulations. Almost all participants (99%) agreed that they were always treated respectfully during interactions with QL staff., Conclusions: The Washington QL appeared effective and well received by callers from the specific populations studied. States choosing to promote their QL more aggressively should feel confident that a tobacco QL can be an effective and well received cessation service for smokers who call from a broad range of communities.
- Published
- 2007
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