Evaluation of a Proactive Outreach Strategy for Tobacco Treatment by a Student-run Clinic for Asian

Lee CH, Lin R, Li J, Wong S, Jan R, Tong EK.
Evaluation of a Proactive Outreach Strategy for Tobacco Treatment by a Student-run Clinic for Asian Americans: A Retrospective Observational Study
Tob Prev Cessat. 2026 Jul 10;12. doi: 10.18332/tpc/217701. PMID: 42445613; PMCID: PMC13358469.

Introduction: Certain Asian American subgroups have higher smoking rates than the general population, contributing to preventable mortality. This study evaluated the implementation and outcomes of a proactive tobacco treatment outreach strategy at Paul Hom Asian Clinic (PHAC), a student-run free clinic serving Asian Americans in Sacramento, California.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study of all active PHAC patients from August 2020 to June 2021. Volunteers used the Ask, Advise, Connect framework, which involves assessing tobacco use, advising smokers to quit, and referring them to cessation resources via the Asian Smokers' Quitline (ASQ). Outreach calls were made in patients' preferred languages to collect demographics, smoking status, and referral acceptance. The ASQ provided outcomes for referred patients, including counseling completion, unreachable status, or refusal. Descriptive statistics and exploratory logistic regression identified factors associated with successful contact.

Results: Among 1733 patients, 194 (11.2%) had a history of tobacco use or exposure, including 162 current smokers, 27 former smokers, and 5 passive smokers, most being non-English speakers. Proactive outreach reached 23.2% of patients, with a 24.4% referral acceptance rate. Of those referred, 8 out of 11 completed counseling, 2 were unreachable, and 1 declined. Logistic regression indicated that increasing age was associated with lower odds of contact, particularly for patients aged ≥50 years. Sex and language were not significant predictors.

Conclusions: Proactive outreach by student volunteers shows promise for promoting tobacco cessation among Asian American patients. Despite barriers, nearly one-quarter accepted referral, with most engaging in counseling. These findings highlight the potential for student-run clinics to deliver culturally and linguistically tailored interventions to underserved populations.