The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #42379

Jeanne L. Fignar, AAS¹, Alice J. Dalla Palu, MPA, CAC¹, and Judith N. Sabino, MPH². (1) Coalition for a Smoke-Free Valley, P. O. Box 7017, 17th & Chew, Allentown, PA 18105-7017, (2) Department of Community Health and Health Studies, Lehigh Valley Hospital, 17th and Chew Streets, PO Box 7017, Allentown, PA 18105-7017

Purpose: Community Health and Health Studies of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network (LVHHN), worked with Coalition for a Smoke-Free Valley (CSFV) to design, implement, evaluate programming to reduce tobacco use for inpatients who consented and who met the criteria. Period of time for pilot was October 3, 2000 through May 30, 2001. Method: Patients identified as tobacco users, lived in Lehigh or Northampton counties, received brief counseling by a Respiratory Therapist during their in-patient stay, were then referred to CSFV for on-going telephone cessation counseling. Using Prochaska Model AStages of Change,@ CSFV telephone counselor called the patient, established a relationship, and continued to counsel them through several phone calls, until the patient requested no further contact, was phased-out of counseling, was referred for further treatment, or project was completed. Results: 71 patients were enrolled; 19 were dropped, i.e., not interested in participating, telephone numbers disconnected, not able to establish contact after several attempts, unable to speak English. Of 52 who continued, 27 were in Action phase; 21 were in Preparation; 2 were Contemplators; and 2 Pre-contemplators. Of those who continued to smoke, the majority significantly reduced the number of cigarettes smoked. Conclusions: Patients, immediately after discharge are motivated to quit for good. A major barrier to quitting was returning to work. Most of these patients had difficulty staying quit because of workplace stress and work habits. Telephone contact increased the number of people who quit, and motivated people to make additional quit attempts.

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