Last Updated: October 2022
Author: Tobacco Control Program, Vermont Department of Health
The curve represents the number of Quitline registrants who completed four or more calls with an 802Quits Quitline counselor. Methodology for this measure changed in 2022 where we are only looking at unique registrants instead of all registrants. This change created a significant decrease in those completing the 4 or more sessions.
The more counseling sessions that a registrant has with a Quitline coach, the greater the likelihood of a successful quit attempt.
The Vermont Tobacco Control Program (VTCP) works closely with their Quitline contractor, National Jewish Health, to monitor the participation of registrants as well as confirm delivery of quality coaching services. National Jewish Health (NJH) trains its coaches to be capable and effective at meeting the needs of those seeking Quitline services. Some populations, including pregnant smokers, may need additional support and tailored counseling sessions that a Quitline like NJH can be prepared to offer through training its coaches.
The tobacco program also works to encourage use of the Quitline through mass reach media. Hard-hitting ads are effective in reaching those who smoke and inciting them to reach out to the Quitline.1 The VTCP also runs ads that increase awareness and trust in our state’s 802Quits resources which in addition to the Quitline includes Online services and Quit Partners, trained tobacco treatment specialists who serve in communities across the state.
[1] Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs—2014
Together these performance measures focus on whether Vermonters are better off as a result of the Health Department's Tobacco Control Program. They do so by looking at the quality and efficiency of these programs and services. This performance measure is important because it measures if Vermonters are likely to experience successful tobacco treatment counseling.
The CDC emphasizes in Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs the importance of those that want to quit tobacco participating in one ten-minute reactive call as well as three Quitline initiated calls[1]. The more calls that a participant is involved in increases the likelihood of a successful quit. Participating in counselling calls, along with taking advantage of the free short and long acting nicotine replacement therapy, increases the chances of a successful quit attempt.
Quitting tobacco has beneficial short and long term health impacts no matter one’s age. Chronic disease kills more Vermonters than all other causes combined. Three behaviors (no physical activity, poor diet, and tobacco use) lead to the four diseases of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease which result in more than 50% of deaths in Vermont. Reaching Vermonters that want to quit and supplying the needed cessation support will reduce the number of Vermonters suffering from chronic disease.
[1] Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs—2014