A National Asian-Language Smokers’ Quitline — United States, 2012–2014

Abstract

IntroductionUntil recently, in-language telephone quitline services for smokers who speak Asian languages were available only in California. In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded the national Asian Smokers’ Quitline (ASQ) to expand this service to all states. The objective of this study was to examine characteristics of ASQ callers, how they heard about the quitline, and their use of the service.MethodsCharacteristics of callers from August 2012 through July 2014 were examined by using descriptive statistics. We examined demographics, cigarette smoking status, time to first cigarette, how callers heard about the quitline, and service use (receipt of counseling and medication) by using ASQ intake and administrative data. We analyzed these data by language and state.ResultsIn 2 years, 5,771 callers from 48 states completed intake; 31% were Chinese (Cantonese or Mandarin), 38% were Korean, and 31% were Vietnamese. More than 95% of all callers who used tobacco were current daily cigarette smokers at intake. About 87% of ASQ callers were male, 57% were aged 45 to 64 years, 48% were uninsured, and educational attainment varied. Most callers (54%) were referred by newspapers or magazines. Nearly all eligible callers (99%) received nicotine patches. About 85% of smokers enrolled in counseling; counseled smokers completed an average of 4 sessions.ConclusionASQ reached Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese speakers nationwide. Callers were referred by the promotional avenues employed by ASQ, and most received services (medication, counseling, or both). State quitlines and local organizations should consider transferring callers and promoting ASQ to increase access to cessation services.

Outreach to California Medicaid Smokers for Asian Language Quitline Services

“…Half of callers to the nationwide ASQ heard about the service through print media. 20 The current study similarly found that half of callers were referred through media. Paid advertising in ethnic media is expensive; however, press releases (including where ASQ already purchased ads) resulted in earned (free) media mentions, articles, and features.…”

Cancer statistics for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, 2016: Converging incidence in males and females

“…In a clinic serving Chinese immigrants in San Francisco that offered tobacco‐cessation services that included counseling, nicotine‐replacement therapy, and acupuncture, over 90% of patients chose to include acupuncture; inclusion of this traditional medicinal approach may have increased acceptability of cessation assistance . Although telephone quitlines are an effective smoking‐cessation tool, California was the only state in which they were available in Asian languages until 2012, when the service became available nationwide . In the first 2 years, almost 6000 callers have used this national resource.…”

“…103 Although telephone quitlines are an effective smokingcessation tool, California was the only state in which they were available in Asian languages until 2012, when the service became available nationwide. 104 In the first 2 years, almost 6000 callers have used this national resource. 105 ) and also contributes to the development of independent risk factors, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes.…”

Chinese immigrant smokers’ access barriers to tobacco cessation services and experience using social media and text messaging

“…The underuse of proven cessation methods may be explained by the dearth of culturally appropriate programs targeting this population 13 and access barriers to available smoking cessation services 14 - 16 . Current smoking cessation programs, which focus on Chinese communities such as Asian Smokers’ Quitline (ASQ), and communitybased services have limited population impact due to their low engagement rates 17 .…”