Feasibility of a Spanish/English computerized decision aid to facilitate smoking cessation efforts in underserved communities.
BACKGROUND
People with poor access to medical care are more likely to smoke but are less likely to receive nicotine dependence treatment.


OBJECTIVE
To assess preliminary outcomes of a computer-based, bilingual smoking cessation decision-aid to facilitate utilization of resources.


METHODS
A computer kiosk with a smoking cessation decision-aid was integrated at three safety-net clinics and two health fairs. The kiosk queries participants about smoking behaviors, guides them to set a quit date and select treatment, provides printed materials, and prompts fax-referral to quitline.


RESULTS
Among the 163 smokers referred to the kiosk, 78.5% participated in the study and 30% completed the kiosk in Spanish. Few had previously used cessation resources. During completion of the decision-aid, 95.3% requested pharmacotherapy, and 70.3% opted for counseling. Among those reached for two-month follow-up (69.5%), 20.2% reported they had quit smoking.


CONCLUSIONS
Spanish/English computerized decision aids are feasible and can facilitate the use of effective treatments for smoking cessation among underserved smokers.
Cupertino
A Paula
AP
University of Kansas Medical Center, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Kansas City, Kansas, USA.
Richter
Kimber
K
Cox
Lisa Sanderson
LS
Garrett
Susan
S
Ramirez
Rigoberto
R
Mujica
Fernando
F
Ellerbeck
Edward F
EF
D000328:Adult; D003201:Computers; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008875:Middle Aged; D019303:Multilingualism; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention