Using quit success information to improve programming

Background: Since 2002, the Pennsylvania's (PA) Tobacco Prevention and Control Program, administered by the PA Department of Health, has provided telephone-based cessation counseling through the PA Free Quitline. In July 2011, Pennsylvania contracted National Jewish Health to provide quitline services and conduct quit success and satisfaction follow up surveys. Methods: The PA Free Quitline attempted to contact all participants who enrolled in counseling and received at least one counseling session between July 2010 and December 2012 to conduct three-, six-, and twelve-month follow up surveys using a third party. Findings: 1,184 participants completed three-month surveys and 1,025 participants completed six-month surveys. A greater number of completed twelve-month follow up surveys are required prior to analyses of feedback from that time period. Preliminary analyses demonstrate an approximate 35% quit rate at three-months and a 31% quit rate at six-months. This presentation will include further analyses examining potential differences in quit and satisfaction rates based on treatment, i.e. nicotine replacement therapy, treatment intensity, i.e. number of counseling calls and call duration, and differences between demographic groups. Additional analyses will look at differences using the new survey collection methods in obtaining response rates compared to previous follow up methods used by Pennsylvania. Conclusions: Quitline follow up survey findings can inform future outreach efforts and initiatives, and enhance discussions about tailored service options designed to maximize quits and increase caller satisfaction. Pennsylvania can also use follow up survey findings to facilitate cessation-related discussions with their regional primary contractors and other program stakeholders.