ASPO Abstracts
Use of Smoking Cessation Quitlines Among Participants Reporting Quit Attempts in the Past Year: Results from the US International Tobacco Control Survey.
Category: Cancer Health Disparities, Behavioral Science & Health Communication
Conference Year: 2018
Abstract Body:
Smoking cessation quitlines (QL) are an evidence-based intervention that help people quit smoking. Despite their proven effectiveness, utilization of QL is historically low. This study examines if utilization of QL in the US has been changing over time and which factors are associated with QL calling. Data come from waves 5-8 (2007-2011) of the International Tobacco Control Four Country (ITC-4C) survey. Random-digit dialing was used to recruit adult (age 18+) current smokers (i.e., reported smoking at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and smoking at least once in the past 30 days). Participants were invited to participate in the subsequent survey wave. Participants who reported a quit attempt in the 12 months prior to their survey date were asked “In the last 12 months, have you received advice or information about quitting smoking from telephone or Quitline services?” Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to examine associations between wave of the ITC survey and QL calling using SPSS version 21. Overall, QL utilization was low but increased over the course of the study period, from 6.8% in 2007 to 12.4% in 2011. Multivariate GEE models adjusted for demographics (age, gender, education, income, race/ethnicity), stop smoking medication use, self-reported health status, and cigarettes per day. The odds ratio (OR) for calling a QL in wave 6 of the ITC-4C relative to the referent (wave 5) was = 1.12 (95% CI: 0.79, 1.58), the OR for wave 7 = 1.56 (95% CI: 1.09, 2.25), and in wave 8 OR = 1.83 (95% CI: 1.27, 2.63). Therefore, the odds of calling a QL were significantly higher in wave 7 and wave 8 compared to wave 5. Individuals in the low income category were significantly more likely to report calling a QL compared to those in the high income category OR = 1.68; (95% CI: 1.16, 2.42). Individuals of other races/ethnicities were also more likely to call the QL OR = 2.09; (95% CI: 1.47, 2.96) compared to Non-Hispanic Caucasians. QL use increased in the US between 2007-11, with higher use reported among those with lower incomes who can least afford additional cessation help; however, QL remain an underutilized resource. Efforts should be directed at boosting QL utilization using proven strategies such as paid advertising and marketing.
Keywords: Smoking Cessation Quitline; Health Disparities; Population Health