How to facilitate youth smokers to dial a Youth Quitline? A pilot study in the Chinese Population

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite the effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions provided in the community, most youngsters would not seek assistance even if they want to quit. OBJECTIVE: To examine strategies which facilitate youth smokers to use telephone-based smoking cessation counseling. METHODS: A youth quitline was piloted in Hong Kong which targets to help youngsters aged 12 to 25 to quit smoking. Publicity strategies including press conference, newspaper articles, website, and distribution of publicity items to schools and community centers were applied to promote the quitline. The quitline operated from 4 – 10pm per day, with an additional 1 – 4pm session during Saturdays. Any calls during non-operation hours were recorded and handled by counselors in the next day. RESULTS: The project is ongoing. During the first 3 months, 407 calls were received, of which 185 calls were relevant and about two-fifths came from youth smokers. Most youth smokers obtained the quitline from the mass media (56%), parents and friends (16%), and through internet (15%). Moreover, 30% of relevant calls came from non-smokers who want to help teenagers quit smoking. Of 268 calls received during the non-operation hours, 27% were retrieved successfully. CONCLUSION: While the mass media is the most effective means to promote Youth Quitline, youth smokers could be motivated to utilize the service from their family members and friends. Flexible service hours that suit the youth smokers is important to minimize non-retrieved calls during non-operation hours.