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Outcomes 51

OUTC OM ES

By 2006, the use of cigarettes in the state had decreased by approximately 24%,
resulting in nearly 235,000 fewer smokers and moving the state to the fifth low-
est prevalence of adult smoking in the nation—from 20th place in the year 2000.
The Quit Line, launched in 2000, has certainly contributed to this outcome, re-
ceiving as mentioned earlier, its 100,000th call in November 2007 (Washington
State Department of Health, 2007).

Profiles of Callers
An estimated 1% to 3% of Washington tobacco users have called the Quit
Line, similar to overall national rates. Caller databases indicate that females
are more likely to call than males (62% versus 38%), as well as those ages 41 to
50 (Haase, 2002; Quit Line, 2002). Telephone surveys conducted from October
2004 to October 2005 with Washington Quit Line callers shed light on addi-
tional demographics. Almost half of all callers (44%) were covered by private
healthcare insurance or belonged to a health maintenance organization
(HMO); a third (32%) received Medicaid; and a fourth (25%) were uninsured
(Maher et al., 2007).

Quit Rates
Quit rate studies indicate that at six months, about 13% of callers have quit.

Hearing About the Quit Line

By 2006, nearly half of the smokers in the state had heard about the Quit Line
(BRFSS, 2006), most commonly through television (37%), followed by a
family member or friend (16%), healthcare provider (15%), or prior caller
(12%), or through mention in the newspaper or magazine (6%; Quit Line,
2002).

Satisfaction With the Quit Line

A telephone survey with 356 callers, called back at two months after initial con-
tact, indicated that the vast majority (86%) of callers were very or somewhat
satisfied with the Quit Line; 87% were satisfied with their counselor; 89% with
the materials they received; and 88% would recommend the Quit Line to a
friend (Haase, 2002).