Impact of a Smoking Cessation Quitline in Vietnam: Evidence Base and Future Directions

Abstract

Smoking is considered the most critical modifiable factor with regard to lung cancer and remains a public health concern in many countries, including Vietnam, which is among those countries with the highest tobacco consumption rates in the world. This study has examined the impact of national telephone counselling for smoking cessation and has identified the factors associated with the impact of the quitline among male callers in Vietnam. A randomized cross-sectional survey of 469 smokers who sought smoking cessation services via the national quitline was performed from September 2015 to May 2016. The primary outcomes were measured by a self-reported quit rate at the time of assessment, 7 day point prevalence abstinence (PA), 6 month prolonged PA, service satisfaction, and level of motivation. Among the participants, 31.6% were abstinent, and 5.1% of participants successfully stopped smoking and did not need to seek quitline support. Most of the clients were satisfied with the quality of service (88.5%), felt more confident about quitting (74.3%), and took early action via their first quit attempt (81.7%); 18.3% reported a more than 7 day abstinence period at the time of survey. The primary reasons for smoking relapse were surrounding smoking environments (51.6%) and craving symptoms (44.1%). Future smoking cessation efforts should focus on improving the quality of quitline services, client satisfaction, and developing a tailored program and counseling targeting smokers with specific characteristics, especially ones experiencing chronic diseases.

Behaviors and Attitudes Toward Smoking Among Health Care Workers at Health Facilities in 4 Provinces of Vietnam: A Representative Cross-Sectional Survey

“…Hence, HCWs will be highly receptive to comprehensive smoking cessation support, such as free nicotine replacement, staff counselling, and smoking quit lines. 21,22 Second, this study demonstrates the strong receptiveness of staff to smoking bans within health care facilities-even among smokers. Just 20% of workers felt that a ban would be unfair to smokers, and 78% felt a smoking ban would improve their job performance.…”

Smoking behaviour among adult patients presenting to health facilities in four provinces of Vietnam

“…We agree with the recommendation from the GATS 2015 that the national cessation programme should be strengthened in order to better reach those smokers who do not access healthcare. A recent study showed a positive result about the toll-free quit line run by Bach Mai Hospital [ 23 ]. Currently, this quit line provides around 10 follow-up counselling calls over 12 months.…”

“…A recent study showed a positive result about the toll-free quit line run by Bach Mai Hospital [23]. Currently, this quit line provides around 10 follow-up counselling calls over 12 months.…”

Violence and adversity among pregnant women and new mothers in central Vietnam

“…Maternal well-being was measured using the WHO-5 (5 items) to understand subjective well-being during the past two weeks (Hatcher et al, 2016;Ngo et al, 2019;Topp et al, 2015) based on a 6-point Likert response (ranging between "all of the time -0", to "at no time-5"). Raw scores were standardised in 100 points and a higher score indicated greater well-being.…”