142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

297031
Combating Smoking Disparities among Those With and Without Disabilities: Using Data to Drive Policy Change

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Anureet Benipal, MPH , Ohio Disability and Health Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Yiping Yang, MPH, CHES , Nisonger Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Rosalind Gjessing, BA , The Ohio State University Nisonger Center, Columbus, OH
Katherine Randle, MPH , The Ohio State University College of Public Health, Columbus, OH
Susan Havercamp, PhD , Nisonger Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Ilka K. Riddle, PhD , Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Cincinnati, OH
Jessica Foster, MD, MPH, FAAP , Bureau for Children with Developmental and Special Health Needs, The Ohio Department of Health, Columbus, OH
Erica Coleman, MS , University of Cincinnati University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Cincinnati, OH
Amanda Burkett, MA , Tobacco and Indoor Environments Section, The Ohio Department of Health, Columbus, OH
Amy Gorenflo, BA, CTTS , Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program, The Ohio Department of Health, Columbus, OH
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the nation, accounting for half a million deaths yearly.  Smoking is of particular concern among individuals with disabilities in Ohio.  The Ohio Disability and Health Program’s (ODHP) Needs Assessment, including Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2011 data, showed that 39% of individuals with disabilities smoke versus 22% of those without disabilities, which is the greatest smoking disparity in the country.  Those findings encouraged ODHP to collaborate with the state-based Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program to reach individuals with disabilities and encourage their utilization of the Ohio Tobacco Quit Line, which provides users over-the-phone support to quit smoking.  ODHP presented data to the Tobacco Program, initiated a discussion about improving outreach to the disability community and tracking utilization of the Quit Line by this population.  The Quit Line added a disability screener question to the intake form to track disability as a demographic and measure the change in utilization of the service by the disability population.  Additionally, ODHP is collaborating with the Tobacco Program to create and disseminate promotional materials for the Quit Line targeted at individuals with disabilities. The Tobacco Program is also working towards making their website accessible.  In conclusion, utilizing data to demonstrate a need led to changes in policies and procedures of the Tobacco Program which will help ensure that people with disabilities receive accessible smoking cessation materials, have access to smoking cessation tools and that utilization by this population is tracked so that continuous improvements can be made.

Learning Areas:

Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines

Learning Objectives:
Identify disparities in smoking rates of people with and without disabilities Discuss how data can drive changes in policies and procedures Demonstrate how collaboration leads to better access to smoking cessation information and tools for people with disabilities

Keyword(s): Disabilities, Tobacco Use

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I serve as the clinical research assistant for the Ohio Disability and Health Program (ODHP) and have worked closely with our partners at the state health department regarding the promotion of smoking cessation among people with disabilities.
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.