201256 Implementation and Evaluation of a Quitline Nicotine Replacement Therapy Distribution Initiative

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Michelle Henry , Research & Evaluation, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Jennifer D. Keith, MPH , Research & Evaluation, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Kristin Minot, MA , Research & Evaluation, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Michael Massimini, MS , Research & Evaluation, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Jennifer S. Thompson, PhD , Branch Associates, Inc., Philadelphia, PA
Matthew Coll , Branch Associates, Inc., Philadelphia, PA
Stephanie Saunders, MSW , Branch Associates, Inc., Philadelphia, PA
Ronald Kirby , Division of Tobacco Prevention and Control, Bureau of Health Promotion and Risk Reduction, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Harrisburg, PA
Background: The Tobacco Settlement Act of 2001 established the Pennsylvania Tobacco Prevention and Control Program (PA TPC) within the Pennsylvania Department of Health with funding through the Master Settlement Agreement. In February 2009, PA TPC organized a pilot initiative to distribute Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) through their Pennsylvania Free Quitline, run by the American Cancer Society (ACS). Adult callers to the Quitline who enroll in Quitline phone counseling are eligible for a 4-week starter kit of nicotine patches, regardless of insurance status. ACS quitline counselors administer intake and counseling protocols addressing topics such as medical contraindications; history of tobacco use; readiness to quit; health insurance benefits for additional NRT beyond the starter kit; and referrals to local tobacco cessation service providers for additional support and resources.

Discussion: This presentation describes the process of designing the implementation and evaluation of the PA Free Quitline NRT distribution pilot initiative, including research conducted regarding eligibility criteria; media promotion and cost-effectiveness; anticipated utilization and outcomes; and distribution protocol. This presentation also presents findings from the NRT Quitline initiative evaluation, conducted by the PA TPC statewide evaluators, Public Health Management Corporation and Branch Associates, Inc. This evaluation examines: PA Free Quitline data maintained by ACS (e.g., caller demographics, call distribution, quit information) and compares these data to previous caller data from a comparable time and other statewide data on tobacco users in Pennsylvania (e.g., ATS, BRFSS) to examine the appropriateness and reach of the initiative. Finally, this presentation includes recommendations for future NRT distribution initiatives.

Learning Objectives:
1)Understand the importance of stakeholder collaboration (e.g., tobacco control program contractors, evaluation staff, Quitline partners, etc.) in designing and implementing a NRT distribution initiative. 2)Describe Quitline intake and evaluation counseling protocol and survey script changes associated with a NRT distribution initiative. 3)Understand the importance of building evaluation plans into the design and implementation of a NRT distribution initiative.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: For more than three years now, I have been working on the statewide evaluation of the Pennsylvania Tobacco Prevention and Control Program.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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