Prevalence and Correlates of Quitline Awareness and Utilization in the United States

Nicotine Tob Res. 2013 Nov 22. [Epub ahead of print]
Schauer GL, Malarcher AM, Zhang L, Engstrom MC, Zhu SH.

Tobacco quitlines are evidence-based cessation resources but have been underutilized. The purpose of this study is to provide population-level data about quitline awareness and utilization in the United States and to assess correlates of awareness and utilization. Data were from the 2009-2010 National Adult Tobacco Survey. Quitline awareness among the total sample was 33.9% (current smokers 53.9%, former smokers 34.0%, never-smokers 27.0%). Awareness varied by state (range: 35.8%-84.6% for current smokers). Among current smokers who tried to quit in the past year, correlates of lower awareness included being Black, non-Hispanic, and making <$50,000 annually; correlates of higher awareness included having seen a health professional, higher state tobacco program expenditures, and being female. Among smokers who made at least one quit attempt in the previous year and were aware of the quitline, quitline utilization was 7.8%. Higher state tobacco program expenditure, health professional advice, and being Black, non-Hispanic were correlated with higher utilization; older age was correlated with lower utilization. Awareness was significantly associated with use at the state level (r = .98, p < .01). Although the majority of smokers in the United States are aware of quitlines, only a small percentage of those trying to quit utilize them. State tobacco program expenditures and receipt of advice from a health professional were associated with both higher quitline awareness and higher utilization.