204936 Telephone-based cessation assistance for African-American smokers: Utilization and effectiveness

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Vance Rabius, PhD , National Cancer Information Center, American Cancer Society, Austin, TX
In considering health disparities it is important to consider both areas where improvement is needed and projects that successfully reach and assist the traditionally underserved. The American Cancer Society's (ACS) Quitline project provides telephone-based cessation assistance in contract areas to anyone who has access to a telephone. Historically this service has been very successful in reaching and assisting African-Americans and economically disadvantaged individuals. ACS has conducted several empirical studies to monitor African-American use of the Quitline as a function of their prevalence in the smoking communities in several states. ACS has also conducted several experimental studies to evaluate the effectiveness of the Quitline for African-Americans. This presentation will combine empirical studies of Quitline callers from Louisiana, Texas, and Washington, DC to demonstrate that African-Americans tend to use the Quitline in proportions at least as great as their proportional representation in the smoking communities in those states and that their quit rates are substantially equivalent to those of European Americans. The results from two clinical trials in which over 8000 clients were randomized to either be mailed self-help materials or to be mailed those materials and have access to the Quitline will also be used to demonstrate that African-Americas and European-Americans benefit equally from access to the Quitline. While utilization of telephone counseling services is driven in large part by promotion, the results from these empirical and experimental studies demonstrate that telephone counseling is a promising tool for addressing health disparities related to smoking.

Learning Objectives:
Discuss empirical evidence that African-Americans tend to utilize telephone counseling services in at least as great a proportion as their proportional representation in the relevant smoking community. Discuss experimental and expirimental evidence that African-Americans and European Americans benefit equally from Quitline access.

Keywords: Smoking Cessation, African American

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a Senior Scientist at the American Cancer Society and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Public Health at the University of Texas School of Public Health Austin Regional Campus. I have a PhD in Public Health and for the last nine years have directed research related to smoking cessation for the American Cancer Society. I have published articles related to smoking cessation in various journals including Health Psychology, Tobacco Control, Nicotine & Tobacco Research, Public Health Reports, and the Journal of Medical Internet Research. I have presented over 40 papers in the area of smoking cessation at various national and international meetings including APHA, SRNT, NCToH, WCToH, and AACR.
Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Name of Organization Clinical/Research Area Type of relationship
American Cancer Society smoking cessation Employment (includes retainer)

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.