Learning Objectives: Describe the methodology of cessation evaluation at the Arizona Smokers' Helpline and assess the impact of intensive interventions.
Abstract: A new protocol was implemented at the Arizona Smokers’ Helpline (ASH) in March 2001, designed to improve phone counseling services and evaluate callers who received intensive treatment. Previous protocol allowed for multi-session clients to receive counseling for up to one year. Quit rates for multi-session clients have been calculated previously from data gathered during those counseling sessions. The new protocol allows for a maximum of 16 weeks of counseling, but also asks both one-time and multi-session clients for their consent to evaluation. An independent team of evaluation technicians attempts to call all consented clients at four, seven, and thirteen months after their initial contact with ASH, using a new questionnaire designed to assess the clients’ quit status using three different measures: successful 24-hour quit attempts, continuous abstinence from the quit date (if any), and continuous abstinence during the thirty days prior to the survey (30-day point prevalence). The clients can also report their methods of quitting, participation in other programs, and assessment of ASH services. Preliminary results from eight months of evaluation show that multi-session vs. one-time intensive treatment of clients not quit at the time of initial contact have 43.8% vs. 31.8% successful 24-hour quit attempts, 15.0% vs. 7.3% 91-day continuous abstinence, and 14.5% vs. 8.0% 30-day point prevalence at four months from initial contact. Survey and analysis design and more complete results on a larger sample will be presented, examining differences due to gender, language, ethnicity, readiness, and other factors.
AZ Helpline Cessation Evaluation.ppt (376.0 kb)
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