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

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.