The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #62855

Russell Glasgow, PhD¹, Shawn M. Boles, PhD², Edward Lichtenstein, PhD², Michael E. Lee², and Lyn Foster². (1) Clinical Research Unit, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, P.O. Box 378066, Denver, CO 80237-8066, 719-275-6540, russg@ris.net, (2) Oregon Research Institute, 1715 Franklin Blvd., Eugene, OR 97403-1983

Interventions to reach and assist smokers and families of smokers have generally seemed to plateau in terms of participation and success rates. This study reports on adoption, recruitment and implementation issues in a novel partnership with public utilities. The RE-AIM evaluation model (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) was used to evaluate issues important for dissemination. The goal of the project was to use information on the synergistic risk of smoking and home radon exposure to motivate and assist smoking families to create smoke free homes or to stop smoking. We report on recruitment and participation rates and representativeness at both the utility and the individual/family level. This approach recruited 55% of 11 public utilities approached and 11% of estimated 12,818 smoking families served by these utilities. This rate is higher than the average of 2% found in a recent review of population- and community-based studies (McDonald, 1999). Characteristics of smokers in participating families were similar to those of smokers statewide from the most recent BRFSS data. Lessons learned from recruitment and implementation activities are discussed, and recommendations are made for the conduct and evaluation of future programs using innovative partnerships with public and population-based organizations to reach smokers and reduce exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. There are approximately 3,200 utilities in the U.S., and if 55% were willing to participate in similar programs, the public health impact could be substantial.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe three issues in partnering with public utilities for health promotion purposes
• Describe the RE-AIM framework and how it relates to translating research to practice
• Describe typical recuritment rates (reach) for community population-based smoking cessation programs and the reach of this study partnering with utilities.

Keywords: Smoking Cessation,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.