The Reach Ratio

A New indicator for Comparing Quitline Reach into Smoking Subgroups has been published online in the December 5th issue of Nicotine and Tobacco Research. http://ntr.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/12/04/ntr.ntt192.full.pdf+html The paper will be available in print for the January 2014 issue of Nicotine and Tobacco Research.

This paper introduces the "reach ratio” as a complementary measure of the representativeness of smokers using quitlines. This paper uses intake data on eligible smokers according to Propel’s contribution agreement with Health Canada, Utilization of Canadian Quitlines. We used Canadian quitline data from seven Canadian provinces for the period 2007-2009 to test the Reach Ratio, a method that examines the extent to which particular subgroups of smokers are using quitlines. The ability to compare reach to these groups over time and across jurisdictions can provide useful information both for planning and for assessing policies that aim to reach vulnerable populations of smokers.

Subject: NY Times editorial; November 28, 2013