Results From an Outreach Program for Health Systems Change in Tobacco Cessation

Schauer GL, Thompson JR, Zbikowski SM. Health Promot Pract. 2012 Apr 11. [Epub ahead of print]
This study reviewed the use of an outreach program in Washington state to health professionals to provide education through academic detailing and online tools to increase routine identification and treatment of tobacco users. Between 2007 and 2010, the proportion of quitline registrations that reported hearing about the quitline from a health care professional increased by 142.6% in counties that had Initial outreach levels only, increased by 95.4% in counties that had Expanded outreach levels, and only increased 11.2% in Never outreach counties. Fax referral to the quitline increased by 132% and 232% in Initial and Expanded outreach counties, and declined by 39% in Never outreach counties. The authors conclude that a field-based outreach program using academic detailing principles can be used to increase treatment referrals and holds application for other chronic disease areas and quality improvement programs.