201567 Designing a Quitline Evaluation to Maximize Access, Use and Effectiveness

Wednesday, November 11, 2009: 10:48 AM

Michelle Henry , Research & Evaluation, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Jennifer D. Keith, MPH , Research & Evaluation, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Michael Massimini, MS , Research & Evaluation, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Judy Ochs , Division of Tobacco Prevention and Control, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Harrisburg, PA
Kristin O. Minot, MS , Research & Evaluation, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Jennifer S. Thompson, PhD , Branch Associates, Inc., Philadelphia, PA
     
Background: The role of telephone quitlines in comprehensive tobacco control programs has grown significantly since their inception. Quitlines have expanded the services offered to meet increased demand and evaluation efforts have developed accordingly to identify the contribution of quitlines to comprehensive tobacco control programs. The Pennsylvania Tobacco Prevention and Control Program's (PA TPC) Free Quitline incorporates a wide variety of “best practice” services, including proactive and reactive counseling; free cessation services; specialized services for target populations (e.g., pregnant women, youth, smokeless tobacco users); and partnerships with local cessation programs and healthcare providers. With this scope of service, evaluation is essential to identify and assess the contribution of a telephone quitline to a comprehensive tobacco control program such as the PA TPC.

Discussion: This presentation describes the mixed method evaluation of the Pennsylvania Free Quitline, including a literature review of best practices in quitline service delivery; a survey of 28 PA TPC stakeholders regarding quitline service delivery, promotion, and data use; key informant interviews with eight tobacco control professionals from Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Ohio; and analyses of three years of Pennsylvania Free Quitline intake and evaluation data. This presentation also presents recommendations regarding the use of a centralized resource database; quitline material and media campaign content; and targeted promotional strategies. Finally, this presentation demonstrates the importance of communication and collaboration with other state and national quitline representatives to maximize access, use and effectiveness as quitline services expand to meet increased demand.

Learning Objectives:
Explain the integration of qualitative and quantitative data into evaluation plans. Discuss the collaboration of other state and national quitline representatives to improve delivery of services. Describe quitline-related resources and data.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been working as part of the evaluation team for the Pennsylvania Tobacco Prevention and Control Program since 2005, and have worked on a variety of other research, evaluation, and technical assistance projects in the areas of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use.
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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See more of: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs