Suchergebnisse

Purpose. To describe change in Minnesota's QUITPLAN helpline operations following provision of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to multisession counseling enrollees. Methods. NRT access began September 2002. Call volume is reported from September 2001 to May 2003 (pre-NRT = 2734, post-NRT = 12,536). A survey administered at 2 weeks assesses self-reported connection to services (response rate 80%, n = 538/670, pre-NRT vs. 67%, n = 400/595, post-NRT, p < .001). Results. Provision of NRT was followed by an increase in call volume (439 ± 229 calls/month January through May pre-NRT vs. 1292 ± 308 calls/month January through May post-NRT, p = .001). Enrollment in multisession counseling increased (17.4% pre-NRT vs. 75.3% post-NRT, p < .001). Among survey respondents, connection to services was not changed (83.8% pre-NRT vs. 88.0% post-NRT, p = .072). At 2 weeks, more respondents who enrolled in multisession counseling reported having a follow-up call scheduled (43.9% pre-NRT vs. 64.1% post-NRT, p = .001). Conclusions. This is an observational study. Providing NRT as part of a statewide helpline may increase recruitment and encourage callers to enroll in multisession counseling.

Purpose.To examine ethnic variations in the use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in an equal access health care system.Design.Cross-sectional survey.Setting.Eighteen Veterans Affairs medical and ambulatory care centers.Subjects.A cohort of male current smokers (n = 1606).Measures.Use of NRT (nicotine patch or nicotine gum), ethnicity, sociodemographics, health status, smoking-related history, and facility prescribing policy.Results.Overall, only 34% of African-American and 26% of Hispanic smokers have ever used NRT as a cessation aid compared with 50% of white smokers. In the past year, African-American smokers were most likely to have attempted quitting. During a serious past-year quit attempt, however, African-American and Hispanic smokers reported lower rates of NRT use than white smokers (20% vs. 22% vs. 34%, respectively, p = .001). In multivariate analyses, ethnicity was independently associated with NRT use during a past-year quit attempt. Compared with white smokers, African-American (adjusted odds ratio, .53; 95% confidence interval, .34–.83) and Hispanic (adjusted odds ratio, .55; 95% confidence interval, .28–1.08) smokers were less likely to use NRT.Conclusions.Assessment of variations in use of NRT demonstrates that African-American and Hispanic smokers are less likely to use NRT during quit attempts. Future research is needed on the relative contributions of patient, physician, and system features to gaps in guideline implementation to provide treatment for ethnic minority smokers.