BACKGROUND: Tobacco users receiving behavioural and pharmacological assistance are more likely to quit. Although telephone quitlines provide population access to counselling, few offer pharmacotherapy. OBJECTIVE: To assess change in cessation rates and programme impact after the addition of free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to statewide quitline services. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: An observational study of cohorts of callers to the Minnesota QUITPLAN(SM) Helpline before (n = 380) and after (n = 373) the addition of access to free NRT. INTERVENTION: Mailing of NRT (patch or gum) to callers enrolling in multi-session counselling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Thirty-day abstinence six months after programme registration. RESULTS: The number of callers increased from 155 (SD 75) to 679 (180) per month pre-NRT to post-NRT (difference 524, 95% confidence interval (CI) 323 to 725). Post-NRT, the proportion of callers enrolling in multi-session counselling (23.4% v 90.1%, difference 66.6%, 95% CI 60.8% to 71.6%) and using pharmacotherapy (46.8% v 86.8%, difference 40.0%, 95% CI 31.3% to 47.9%) increased. Thirty-day abstinence at six months increased from 10.0% pre-NRT to 18.2% post-NRT (difference 8.2%, 95% CI 3.1% to 13.4%). Post-NRT the average number of new ex-smokers per month among registrants increased from 15.5 to 123.6 (difference 108.1, 95% CI 61.1 to 155.0). The cost per quit pre-NRT was 1362 dollars (SD 207 dollars). The cost per quit post-NRT was 1934 dollars (215 dollars) suggesting a possible increase in cost per quit (difference 572 dollars, 95% CI -12 dollars to 1157 dollars). CONCLUSION: The addition of free NRT to a state quitline is followed by increases in participation and abstinence rates resulting in an eightfold increase in programme impact. These findings support the addition of access to pharmacological therapy as part of state quitline services.
BACKGROUND:Tobacco users receiving behavioural and pharmacological assistance are more likely to quit. Although telephone quitlines provide population access to counselling, few offer pharmacotherapy. OBJECTIVE: To assess change in cessation rates and programme impact after the addition of free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to statewide quitline services. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: An observational study of cohorts of callers to the Minnesota QUITPLAN(SM) Helpline before (n = 380) and after (n = 373) the addition of access to free NRT. INTERVENTION: Mailing of NRT (patch or gum) to callers enrolling in multi-session counselling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Thirty-day abstinence six months after programme registration. RESULTS: The number of callers increased from 155 (SD 75) to 679 (180) per month pre-NRT to post-NRT (difference 524, 95% confidence interval (CI) 323 to 725). Post-NRT, the proportion of callers enrolling in multi-session counselling (23.4% v 90.1%, difference 66.6%, 95% CI 60.8% to 71.6%) and using pharmacotherapy (46.8% v 86.8%, difference 40.0%, 95% CI 31.3% to 47.9%) increased. Thirty-day abstinence at six months increased from 10.0% pre-NRT to 18.2% post-NRT (difference 8.2%, 95% CI 3.1% to 13.4%). Post-NRT the average number of new ex-smokers per month among registrants increased from 15.5 to 123.6 (difference 108.1, 95% CI 61.1 to 155.0). The cost per quit pre-NRT was 1362 dollars (SD 207 dollars). The cost per quit post-NRT was 1934 dollars (215 dollars) suggesting a possible increase in cost per quit (difference 572 dollars, 95% CI -12 dollars to 1157 dollars). CONCLUSION: The addition of free NRT to a state quitline is followed by increases in participation and abstinence rates resulting in an eightfold increase in programme impact. These findings support the addition of access to pharmacological therapy as part of state quitline services.
Authors: Shu-Hong Zhu; Christopher M Anderson; Gary J Tedeschi; Bradley Rosbrook; Cynthia E Johnson; Michael Byrd; Elsa Gutiérrez-Terrell Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2002-10-03 Impact factor: 91.245
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Authors: Matthew A Hoch; Karen Suchanek Hudmon; Linh Lee; Rebecca Cupp; Linda Aragon; Rachel A Tyree; Robin L Corelli Journal: J Community Health Date: 2012-08
Authors: Lisa M Fucito; Amy E Latimer; Shannon Carlin-Menter; Peter Salovey; K Michael Cummings; Robert W Makuch; Benjamin A Toll Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2010-10-30 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Julie E Maher; Kristen Rohde; Clyde W Dent; Michael J Stark; Barbara Pizacani; Michael J Boysun; Julia A Dilley; Patricia L Yepassis-Zembrou Journal: Tob Control Date: 2007-12 Impact factor: 7.552
Authors: Barbara A Schillo; Ann Wendling; Jessie Saul; Michael G Luxenberg; Randi Lachter; Matthew Christenson; Lawrence C An Journal: Tob Control Date: 2007-12 Impact factor: 7.552