Quitlines
Smokers who use Quitlines for smoking cessation are more likely to successfully kick the habit than those who try to quit all on their own.
A recent review found that 3 or more calls to a Quitline increased the odds of a smoker making a successful quit attempt compared to other minimal interventions (such as self-help) or pharmacotherapy alone.1
Telephone Quitlines are an attractive alternative way of delivering smoking cessation counseling. Quitlines have many advantages over more traditional methods of smoking cessation, such as self-help or group therapy.
Quitlines
- Can reduce the barriers associated with traveling to attend classes, which is particularly good for people who live in rural areas or for people with limited mobility.
- Can be more appealing to some persons who may be hesitant to participate in face-to-face groups.
- Have higher follow-up rates because proactive nature of counselors calling smokers.
- Have the capacity to reach large numbers of people interested in quitting.
Two Main Types of Quitlines: Reactive & Proactive
- Reactive – the smoker initiates all of the calls.
- Proactive – the counselor calls the smoker and counseling is provided in a similar fashion to cessation clinics (i.e., scheduled sessions).
- Quitlines often are a mix of the two types.
Extent of Quitline Usage
Since 1992, Quitlines for smoking cessation have grown steadily. In 2004, the Department of Health and Human Services established a national network of Quitlines. This national network, the North American Quitline Consortium (see http://www.naquitline.org/welcome.asp), offers a wide array of services that varies from state to state. In North America, all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and all 10 Canadian provinces provide access to Quitlines.
Quitline services offered include:2
- Counseling (single session and multiple sessions)
- Mailed materials
- Referrals to other cessation services
- Web-based services
- Provision of NRTs (nicotine replacement therapies) and/or assistance with obtaining NRTs
- Recorded messages
- Voicemail call-back services
- Fax referral service
How Effective are Quitlines?
In general, only about 7% of smokers remain abstinent (smoke-free) one year after quitting smoking.3
The one-year abstinence rate associated with the use of Quitlines dramatically increases to around 30%.4
Maryland Quitline2
1-800-QUITNOW
1-877-777-6534 (Deaf or hard of hearing)
Website: http://www.smokingstopshere.com
In operation since June 2006
Languages: English & Spanish
Maryland Quitline Phone Counseling Summary2
| Standard counseling available for adult smoker | Minimal/brief intervention; Multiple: counselor-initiated |
| Number of sessions provided for typical smoker | Four |
| Length of typical first session | 30 minutes |
| Length of typical follow-up | 10-15 minutes |
| Timing of counseling sessions | At least two follow-up calls within 10 days of quitting |
Maryland Quitline Services Summary2
| Web-based Services | Yes | Information about the Quitline; information about cessation |
| Other Services | Yes | Voicemail with call-back; recorded messages; fax referral; mailed information & free referral to local cessation programs |
| Medications | None | Referral to FREE local cessation program |
| Specialized Materials Available | Yes | Pregnant tobacco users; youth; smokeless tobacco users; racial/ethnic populations |
| Specialized Materials Sent To | Yes | Health professionals; Those wanting to help others quit |
References:
1 Stead LF, Perera R, Lancaster T. Telephone counselling for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD002850. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002850.pub2. http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD002850/frame.html
2 North American Quitline Consortium. 2006. Quitlines of North America and Europe 2006. Phoenix: North American Quitline Consortium.
3 Zhu, S-H., Melcer, T., Sun, J., Rosbrook, B., & Pierce, M. S. (2000). Smoking cessation with and without assistance a population-based analysis. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 18, 305-11.
4 Lichtenstein, E., Glasgow, R. E., Lando, H. A., Ossip-Klein, D. J., & Boles, S. M. (1996). Telephone counseling for smoking cessation: rationales and meta-analytic review of evidence. Health Education Research, 11, 243-257.
