Evaluation of Use & Effectiveness of Quitlines in Smokers with Diabetes

Audience: State tobacco control managers, cessation managers, chronic disease divisions/  evaluators; community-based individuals interested in chronic disease and tobacco cessation

Key Points:

• Diabetes and smoking triples the risk of premature death, but weight gain from cessation can further complicate diabetes and is a common side effect during quitting.
• Telephone-based quitlines are evidence-based cessation tools that can support quitting, but have not been studied adequately in populations with chronic diseases like diabetes.
• A telephone evaluation about the use and effectiveness of a telephone-based quitline was administered to 242 tobacco users with and without diabetes, seven months after enrollment in a quitline. Demographic, tobacco use and cessation, and weight-related information was collected, analyzed, and compared between those with and those without diabetes to identify possible differences.
• Tobacco users with diabetes used the quitline in greater proportion than they were represented in the general population (reach effect ratio of 1.36). Quit rates did not differ significantly between those with and without diabetes (24.3% vs. 22.5%).
• No significant differences existed between groups for weight gain at follow-up, regardless of quitting status. However, participants with diabetes were more likely to be obese and reported more weight gain in prior quit attempts.
• Concern about gaining weight was a significant predictor of continued smoking regardless of diabetes status.

Educational Experience:

• Highlight intersection of chronic disease and tobacco use and ways existing resources can be leveraged to support work in both areas.

Benefits:

• Collaboration is essential to eliminate chronic diseases and related health risk behaviors like tobacco use.  Session will encourage cross-departmental work.