title: Promoting tobacco cessation and smoke-free workplaces through community outreach partnerships in Puerto Rico.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Puerto Rico (PR) has a lower smoking prevalence than the United States (14.8% vs. 21.2%, respectively); nevertheless, the five leading causes of death are associated with smoking. There is a need to implement evidence-based tobacco control strategies in PR.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The Outreach Pilot Program (OPP) was designed to engage communities, health professionals, and researchers in a network to advance health promotion activities and research to increase the use of the PR Quitline (PRQ) among smokers and promoting policies in support of smoke-free workplaces.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using community-based participatory research (CBPR) methods, the OPP mobilized a network of community and academic partners to implement smoking cessation activities including referrals to the PRQ, adoption of evidence-based smoking cessation programs, and promotion of smoke-free legislation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty organizations participated in the OPP. Collaborators implemented activities that supported the promotion of the PRQ and smoke-free workplaces policy and sponsored yearly trainings, including tobacco control conferences. From 2005 to 2008, physician referrals to the PRQ increased from 2.6% to 7.2%. The number of annual smokers receiving cessation services through the PRQ also increased from 703 to 1,086. The OPP shepherded a rigorous smoke-free law through participation in the development, promotion, and implementation of the smoke-free workplaces legislation as well as the creation of the PR Tobacco Control Strategic Plan, launched in 2006.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This project demonstrates the feasibility of developing a successful and sustainable community-based outreach program model that enlists the participation of academic researchers, community organizations, and health care providers as partners to promote tobacco control.
authors.forename: Elba C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Díaz-Toro
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Virmarie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Correa-Fernández
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Calo
authors.forename: Ana Patricia
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.forename: Luz M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Mejía
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mazas
authors.forename: Maria del Carmen
authors.initials: Mdel C
authors.lastname: Santos-Ortiz
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Wetter
mesh_terms: D003256:Community Participation; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015277:Hotlines / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D011647:Puerto Rico; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014495:Universities; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration*
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution