title: An Evaluation of the Youth Quitline Service Young Hong Kong Smokers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The psychological and social factors associated with smoking initiation and continuation are different for young and adult smokers. Before 2005, there were no population-based smoking cessation interventions targeting young smokers in Hong Kong, China. This study describes the processes and outcomes of an individualized "Youth Quitline" service for young Hong Kong Chinese smokers over a 10-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective population-based study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the Quitline and identify the predictors of quitting. Telephone records were used to obtain information of each call. Young smokers of the Quitline completed a questionnaire at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Data were collected between August 2005 and August 2015.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over the 10-year period, the Youth Quitline received 7,720 telephone inquiries and provided smoking cessation counseling to 1,684 young smokers. At the 6-month follow-up, 16.9% had reduced cigarette consumption by more than 50%, 33.8% had tried quitting, and 23.6% had successfully quit smoking. Logistic regression analyses indicated that 7 factors, including (1) age; (2) daily cigarette consumption; (3) level of nicotine dependence; (4) intention to quit; (5) having made at least one quit attempt; (6) level of self-efficacy; and (7) adherence to telephone counseling, significantly predicted smoking cessation at 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During the first 10 years of the Youth Quitline, we trained many youths to become smoking cessation peer counselors. The Youth Quitline successfully increased youths' awareness of the risks of smoking and smoking cessation services and provided individualized smoking cessation counseling services to young smokers.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. Electronic address: william3@hku.hk.
authors.forename: William H C
authors.initials: WHC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Sophia S C
authors.initials: SSC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Man Ping
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Ka Yan
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Yannes T Y
authors.initials: YTY
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Vivian W F
authors.initials: VWF
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Tai Hing
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D057566:Self Report; D000074285:Smokers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013689:Telephone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Chinese; Peer counseling; Quitline; Smoking cessation service; Young smokers