141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

281590
Evaluation of the innovative tobacco cessation systems change model in rural and underserved sites in Florida

Wednesday, November 6, 2013 : 1:30 PM - 1:50 PM

Rosebud L. Foster, EdD, MSN , Health Professions Division/Public Health Program/Area Health Education Center, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Steven Zucker, DMD, MEd , College of Osteopathic Medicine, Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Gustavo Saldias, MPH , College of Osteopathic Medicine, Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Gabriel Suciu, MSPH, PhD , Public Health Program, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Introduction: In Florida, 20% of deaths are attributed to cigarette smoking. The state has made progress in combating tobacco use. Since 2007, 500,000 less adults smoke and by 2010, prevalence among adults reached its lowest point ever, with a rate of 17.1%. Moreover, 63.5% of adults who smoked have quit. The CDC Best Practices Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs and U.S. Public Health Service Clinical Practice Guidelines serve as frameworks for a broad based systems change approach which increases access to community tobacco cessation counseling services in partnership with primary care prevention health systems. Objective: To identify correlations between subjects who quit smoking and comprehensive systems change model implemented at level of primary care settings in rural and underserved communities in Florida. Methods: Evaluate implemented tobacco cessation systems-change model in safety net sites and community based organizations within targeted 19 counties. The process identifies essential strategies to increase health care providers capacity to treat tobacco dependency, assess outcomes including participation, interval quit rates, relapse impact and effect of implemented systems change model. Cessation rates are compared over two years. Results: After the implementation of model, there were 2,990 registered smokers ages 18 to 88, (mean 51.3 years) in 2010-2011, and in 2011-2012, 3033 smokers ages 18 to 92 (mean age of 50.8 years). The overall quit rate in 2010-2011 was 23%, and 27% in 2011-2012. Conclusion: An innovative tobacco cessation program strengthened capacity of safety-net targeted communities delivering effective tobacco use treatment, cessation, counseling resources, and prevention services through institutional systems-change.

Learning Areas:
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Evaluate methods and outcomes derived through the establishment of a regional systems-change model. Demonstrate collaborative relationships with community health centers and partners in providing on-going continuity and in tobacco cessation and prevention services in rural and underserved areas. Describe the results of the implemented systems change approach and utilize resources. Demonstrate increase access to tobacco cessation services and settings in underserved communities in Florida.

Keywords: Tobacco, Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Dr. Rosebud Foster, Ed.D., M.S.N. serves as Professor of Public Health and Special Assistant to the Executive Vice Chancellor, Nova Southeastern University, Health Professions Division, as well as Deputy Director of the NSU Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program. She provides leadership in the development of organizations and systems, and maintains an important role at the forefront of Health Policy, Planning and Management at the local, state and national levels.
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.