Using a health informatics system to assess effect of a federal cigarette tax increase on readiness to quit among low-income smokers, Louisiana, 2009.
BACKGROUND
Health informatics systems are a proven tool for tobacco control interventions. To address the needs of low-income groups, the Tobacco Control Initiative was established in partnership with the Louisiana State University Health Care Services Division to provide cost-effective tobacco use cessation services through the health informatics system in the state public hospital system.


METHODS
In this study we used a Web-based, result-reporting application to monitor and assess the effect of the 2009 federal cigarette tax increase. We assessed readiness to quit tobacco use before and after a cigarette tax increase among low-income tobacco users who were outpatients in a public hospital system.


RESULTS
Overall, there was an increase in readiness to quit, from 22% during the first week of February to 33% during the first week of April, when the tax went into effect. Smokers who were female, 31 or older, African American, and assessed at a clinic visit in April were more likely to report readiness to quit than were men, those aged 30 or younger, those who were white, and those who were assessed at a clinic visit in February.


CONCLUSIONS
A health informatics system that efficiently tracks trends in readiness to quit can be used in combination with other strategies and thus optimize efforts to control tobacco use. Our data suggest that a cigarette tax increase affects smokers' readiness to quit and provides an opportunity to intervene at the most beneficial time.
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, School of Public Health, 2020 Gravier St, New Orleans, LA 70112. E-mail: ttseng@lsuhsc.edu.
Tung-Sung
TS
Tseng
Louisiana State University, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Sarah
S
Moody-Thomas
Louisiana State University, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Ronald
R
Horswell
Louisiana State University, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Yong
Y
Yi
Louisiana State University, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Michael D
MD
Celestin
Louisiana State University, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Krysten D
KD
Jones
D000328:Adult; D003132:Commerce / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008145:Louisiana; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty; D012907:Smoking / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology*; D013660:Taxes; D062789:Tobacco Products / Q000191:economics*