Assessing the Use of Interactive Voice Response Technology in a Smoking Cessation Intervention

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Four million cigarette smokers are hospitalized annually. Hospital-initiated smoking cessation programs are effective when paired with post-discharge follow-up. This study used automated telephone technology to deliver cessation counseling and medication to recently hospitalized smokers. METHODS: My data (n = 198) comes from the intervention arm of an RCT that enrolled hospitalized smokers planning to quit post-discharge. Subjects received up to 5 automated calls, offering counseling and 3-months free supply of stop-smoking medication. I analyzed call completion rates, services requested, and call satisfaction. Using logistic regression, I measured the dose-response relationship between call completion rates and 7-day smoking abstinence at 6 months. RESULTS: Most participants (52%) completed >4 calls. Males (p=0.03) and older patients (p=0.04) completed more calls than others. Medication refills were requested more often than counseling (72% vs. 37%), but more women requested counseling than men (45% vs. 30%). Most subjects (75%) found the calls helpful. The odds of 7-day abstinence increased 38% (p=0.01) with each additional call completed. CONCLUSION: Automated calls as a post-discharge smoking cessation intervention were well-utilized, broadly acceptable, and associated with increased odds of quitting. This technology offers a feasible way to routinely and systematically promote cessation among recently hospitalized smokers.