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Quitline Linked with Higher Smoking Abstinence
J Subst Abuse Treat; ePub 016 Aug 21; Bernstein, et al
Among low-income smokers, greater use of Quitline (QL) services is associated with higher abstinence, according to a recent study. Researchers conducted a secondary analysis of a randomized trial of every- or some-day smokers (n=778; ≥ 18 years) visiting an urban emergency department. Inclusion criteria included self-pay or Medicaid insurance, as a proxy for low-income and low socioeconomic status. They found:
- Of total subjects, 197 (25.3%) reported any use of QL services at 3 months.
- Participants were divided into 3 categories: no QL usage, 1 call only, and >1 call (583, 99, and 98 participants, respectively).
- Quit rates at 3 months in these no, low-, and high-use groups were, respectively, 7.2%, 9.1%, and 15.3%.
- Participants who used the QL had a median of 28 total minutes of telephone contact.
Citation:
Bernstein SL, Rosner J-M, Toll B, Zbikowski SM. Association between utilization of Quitline services and probability of tobacco abstinence in low-income smokers. [Published online ahead of print August 21, 2016]. J Subst Abuse Treat. doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2016.08.014.