The Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line's Fax to Quit program: participant satisfaction and effectiveness.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line's (WTQL) clinic-based Fax to Quit (FTQ) provider referral program in terms of participant satisfaction and short-term quit outcomes, and to compare those findings to a non-FTQ provider referral group.


METHODS
A sample of 432 WTQL callers completed a telephone survey approximately 3 months after they received WTQL services. Of these, 265 contacted the WTQL based on a clinic referral and served as the basis for analyses. Of these 265, 158 FTQ respondents were compared to 107 non-FTQ respondents in terms of satisfaction with the WTQL as well as quit attempts and tobacco abstinence.


RESULTS
Overall, survey respondents reported high levels of satisfaction with the WTQL (FTQ = 96.8%, non-FTQ = 92.7%). Other measures of satisfaction (cultural sensitivity, respondent needs and concerns understood) showed similarly high levels of respondent satisfaction for both groups. FTQ respondents reported a statistically significantly higher 30-day abstinence rate (46.8%) compared to non-FTQ respondents (32.7%).


CONCLUSIONS
Participants expressed high levels of satisfaction with WTQL services and demonstrated high short-term quit rates. FTQ-referred WTQL users reported higher rates of tobacco cessation than non-FTQ-referred WTQL users. These findings suggest that fax referral has potential to successfully link smokers visiting primary care clinics to the WTQL, an evidence-based cessation option.
Kobinsky
Kathleen H
KH
University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53711, USA. ks6@ctri.medicine.wisc.edu
Redmond
Lezli A
LA
Smith
Stevens S
SS
Yepassis-Zembrou
Patricia L
PL
Fiore
Michael C
MC
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016636:Telefacsimile; D013689:Telephone; D020340:Tobacco Use Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D014922:Wisconsin