The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #67185

Virginia P Quinn, PhD, Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, 100 South Los Robles Ave, 2nd floor, Pasadena, CA 91101, 626-564-3467, virginia.p.quinn@kp.org and Jonathan Winickoff, MD, MPH, Center for Child and Adolescent Health Policy, Massachusetts General Hospital, 50 Staniford St, 9th Fl, Boston, MA 02114.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable illness and death in the US and a major factor in health care costs. In 2000, 27% of 18-24 year olds were current smokers. Prevention and cessation yield immediate health benefits at all ages. Health care visits provide opportunities for tobacco use assessment and treatment, and access to poorer, less educated groups at high risk for smoking. The USPHS clinical guideline for treating tobacco recommends clinicians identify, document and treat tobacco users at every health encounter. Some health care visits may be especially relevant for young adults. Pediatricians can address initiation and cessation among adolescents prior to young adulthood and provide tobacco cessation services to young parents who smoke. The added health burden from maternal smoking during pregnancy increases the importance of intervention during ob visits. Limited research finds 60% of smokers report having received advice to quit from a provider in the previous year. Unfortunately, rates are considerably lower among young adults. Pediatricians often ask about smoking, much less frequently provide counseling, and report lacking skills for providing cessation treatment. Only half of ob/gyn MDs routinely deliver advice and limited assistance to pregnant and non-pregnant smokers. Despite national initiatives, clinicians have yet to take full advantage of health care visits to address tobacco and are more likely to treat older, sicker, heavier smokers. Improved tobacco treatment for young adults requires monitoring of tobacco cessation services and clinician education to raise cessation skills and understanding of benefits gained from treating young adults.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the rationale for delivering tobacco services to young adults during health care visits.
• Assess progress to date in the delivery of tobacco services to young adults.
• Identify strategies to improve delivery of tobacco services to young adults.

Keywords: Tobacco Control, Youth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.