Callers are Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese; most received nicotine patches and counseling
THURSDAY, July 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An Asian-Language Smokers Quitline (ASQ) reaches Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese speakers nationwide, and most callers receive medication and counseling, according to a study published online June 25 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Preventing Chronic Disease.
Nicole Kuiper, M.P.H., from the CDC in Atlanta, and colleagues examined characteristics of ASQ callers. Descriptive statistics were used to examine characteristics of callers from August 2012 through July 2014. Demographics, cigarette smoking status, time to first cigarette, how callers heard about the quitline, and receipt of counseling and medication were examined, by language and state.
The researchers found that 5,771 callers from 48 states called during the study period. Of these, 31, 38, and 31 percent were Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese, respectively. At intake, more than 95 percent of all callers who use tobacco were current daily cigarette smokers. Of the callers, about 87 percent were male, 57 percent were aged 45 to 64 years, and 48 percent were uninsured; there was variation in educational attainment. More than half of callers (54 percent) were referred by newspapers or magazines. Ninety-nine percent of eligible callers received nicotine patches. Most smokers (about 85 percent) enrolled in counseling; smokers completed an average of four counseling sessions.
“State quitlines and local organizations should consider transferring callers and promoting ASQ to increase access to cessation services,” the authors write.
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