Effectiveness Evaluation of the WV RFTS-SCRIPT Dissemination Program: A Science to Practice Partnership

The WV Right From The Start (RFTS) Program provides home-based targeted case management to Medicaid-eligible clients state-wide. Designated Care Coordinators, registered nurses and licensed social workers, provide multiple services, including tobacco treatment. RFTS has reported a smoking rate of > 40% since 2000. In response, the Smoking Cessation and Reduction In Pregnancy Treatment (SCRIPT) Project became the evidence-based tobacco treatment for dissemination and adoption by RFTS in 2006. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness and behavioral impact of the RFTS–SCRIPT Dissemination Project. We implemented a quasi-experimental, Non-Randomized, Historical Comparison (C) Group design, to evaluate behavioral impact. The RFTS-SCRIPT Experimental E Group (N= 259) were all clients in 2009-2010 who provided a CO at screening, wanted to quit, received the SCRIPT visit and had > 1 follow-up. The RFTS Historical Comparison (C) Group (N= 259) was derived from clients in 2006-2007 and a stratification-matching process with E Group clients based on baseline CO in 10 strata. A statistically significant increase in CO-confirmed cessation rate (+ 9.3%) and a significant increase in clients reporting MD advice to quit (+ 9.0%) were documented for the E vs C groups. While many implementation issues were faced, 28% of the RFTS smokers accepted SCRIPT and an additional 9.3% of smokers quit. These results are new for a home-based tobacco treatment program, providing valid evidence that an additional proportion of women can change their smoking behavior late in pregnancy.