Celebrating 20 Years of Quitlines: Looking Back and Looking Ahead

Zhu, Shu-Hong

Thursday, August 16, 2012: 2:00 PM

2505B (Kansas City Convention Center)

Dr. Shu-Hong Zhu, PhD, BS , Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California – San Diego, La Jolla, CA

Erik Augustson, Ph.D., MPH , Tobacco Control Research Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD

David Willoughby, CEO , Clearway Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

Sally Carter, MSW, LCSW , Oklahoma State Department of Health

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this presentation attendees will be able to:

Describe the major accomplishments of quitlines in the US
Explain the importance of new technologies in expanding the reach of quitlines
Describe ways in which quitlines are partnering with a) community organizations to better reach priority populations and b) private sector companies & Medicaid programs to make the quitline more sustainable.

Cross Cutting Program Area(s): Increasing Diversity/Eliminating Disparities and Tobacco Control Policies

· Audience: This session is geared to tobacco control professionals at all levels of experience. · Key Points: In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the first state quitline in California, this session will look back at the progress quitlines have achieved since 1992 and look forward toward potential new roles for quitlines in advancing tobacco control. Four speakers will describe: o The quitline experience from 1992 – 2012 and future opportunities; o The role of quitlines in reaching priority populations and successful state strategies; o Integration of new and emerging communications technologies into quitlines to expand their reach and improve efficiency; and o Making quitlines sustainable through innovative strategies such as public-private partnerships and partnerships with Medicaid. · Educational Experience: Attendees from all levels of experience in tobacco control will gain new knowledge on the history of quitlines, their achievements and a vision for their future. Presenters will describe the role of quitlines in making a success of new tobacco control initiatives, such as the Affordable Care Act and new graphic health warnings. Current and future opportunities for quitlines to have a major impact on quit attempts will be identified. Examples of successful strategies for reaching priority populations and for incorporating new communication technologies into quitlines will be discussed. Presenters will demonstrate strategies for making quitlines more sustainable through partnerships that encourage health insurers to support the costs of quitline services. · Benefits: Audience will gain new strategies for improving state quitlines’ use by priority populations, reach and efficacy, and sustainability.