Problem/Objective: Smokeless tobacco (ST) is used by approximately 7.8 million people in the United States. Intervention programs—including telephone quitlines—have focused primarily on cigarette smokers. We describe Mayo Clinic Tobacco Quitline's experience with a recent subset of smokeless tobacco users who called for assistance in stopping their ST use.

Methods: ST users who called the Mayo Clinic Tobacco Quitline and enrolled in the intervention program 1/1/2006-06/30/2006 were identified retrospectively. Each had participated in a 45-60 minute initial assessment of their ST use, receiving individual counseling on behavior modification, cognitive restructuring strategies and education on the pharmacologic therapies available. A treatment plan was developed and a workbook specifically designed for ST users was mailed to enrollees. A series of up to four proactive telephone calls were arranged. At 7 months after their initial assessment, they were contacted by telephone and their tobacco use status was obtained. Intent-to-treat analysis was used, with all those not able to be contacted considered still using ST.

Results: Exclusive use of ST was reported by 97 enrollees. The seven-month self-reported seven-day abstinence from all tobacco products was 44%. This compares very favorably with the 29% abstinence rates in all non-ST tobacco users enrolled during the same period. Further characteristics of the ST population and comparison to the non-ST population will be described and discussed.

Conclusions: Quitline intervention with ST users is effective. Telephone quitlines should provide intervention services specific for ST and promote their services to ST users as well as cigarette smokers.