Learning Objectives: Discuss the outcomes of the one-year follow-up of the American Cancer Society's Smokers' Quitline
Abstract: During the summer and fall of 2000, nearly five thousand callers sought assistance in smoking cessation from the American Cancer Society's new telephone service in Texas. To test the effectiveness of that service, all current smokers, 18 and older, who were willing to make a quit attempt within two weeks and to participate in the study were randomized to receive either self-help materials through the mail or self-help materials and up to five sessions of telephone counseling. Approximately one in four of the callers were ready to quit and willing to be randomized. This report will present the one year follow-up findings from the first 1000 cases that were enrolled in this study. Findings to be presented will include self-reported rates of maintained cessation, bio-medical validation, medication use, interactions between treatment and medication use, level of participation, and satisfaction with the service. Analyses of the three-month and six-month follow-up data showed that participation in telephone counseling yields cessation rates that are two times higher than those achieved with mailed self-help materials. The treatment effect at the one-year follow-up is almost that great (quit rate: 21% counseling vs. 13% self-help, p<0.05). There are indications of a strong interaction between treatment and medication use on cessation rates as well as a significant advantage to having the same counselor for all counseling sessions. These finding indicate the telephone counseling service is effective in assisting cessation and that emphasis should be placed on promoting the combination of counseling and medication use.
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