Mapping Tobacco Quitlines in North America: Signaling Pathways to Improve Treatment.

Leischow SJ, Provan K, Beagles J, Bonito J, Ruppel E, Moor G, Saul J. Am J Public Health. 2012 Sep 20. [Epub ahead of print]

This study (KIQNIC) examined how the network of quitlines in North America interact and share new knowledge on quitline practices. Results showed that there was a strong tendency for US and Canadian quitlines to seek information from other quitlines in the same country, with few seeking information from quitlines in the other country. The network coordinating organization (the North American Quitline Consortium) is highly central to the network, acting as a broker of quitline information. The authors conclude that quitlines in North America are not isolated, but rather are part of an interconnected network with some quitline organizations playing a more central role than others. As quitline use expands, the ways quitlines share information to improve practices will become increasingly important.