Willett Jeffrey G, Hood Nancy E, Burns Emily K, Swetlick Joyce L, Wilson Steven M, Lang Darryl A, Levinson Arnold H
State of New York Department of Health, Tobacco Control Program, Albany, New York 12237-0675, USA.
Am J Prev Med. 2009 Apr;36(4):337-40. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2008.12.004. Epub 2009 Feb 6.
Faxed referrals from healthcare providers may provide a sustainable, low-cost mechanism for enrolling tobacco users in statewide quitlines, but few studies have evaluated implementation in real-world settings. This study evaluated the reach rates, enrollment rates, and participant characteristics of faxed referrals to the Ohio Tobacco Quit Line.
This observational study analyzed reach and enrollment rates from June 2006 to October 2007. Demographics and tobacco-use characteristics of 1616 Quit Line enrollees recruited through faxed referrals were compared to those of enrollees who were not fax-referred.
A total of 6951 faxed referrals were received during the study period, increasing from an average of 68 per month before promotional initiatives to 412 per month during the study period. However, almost 60% of fax-referred individuals could not be reached for enrollment. Compared to other enrollees (n=36,273), fax-referred enrollees (n=1616) were more likely to be women, aged >/=35 years, have less than a high school education, have at least one comorbid condition, and be uninsured or publicly insured.
Faxed referrals from healthcare providers are widely promoted to increase quitline participation and to assist providers in implementing cessation treatment. This study found low enrollment rates from faxed referrals; substantial efforts led to relatively few patients receiving quitline services. However, faxed referrals may reach populations who traditionally have less access to cessation aids. More research is needed to determine how to efficiently and effectively solicit faxed referrals from healthcare providers and to increase quitline enrollment rates among fax-referred smokers as well as to determine the extent to which faxed referrals influence quit outcomes.
医疗服务提供者通过传真发送的转诊信息可能为将烟草使用者纳入全州戒烟热线提供一种可持续的低成本机制，但很少有研究评估其在实际环境中的实施情况。本研究评估了传真转诊至俄亥俄州戒烟热线的覆盖率、登记率和参与者特征。
这项观察性研究分析了2006年6月至2007年10月的覆盖率和登记率。将通过传真转诊招募的1616名戒烟热线登记者的人口统计学和烟草使用特征与未通过传真转诊的登记者进行比较。
在研究期间共收到6951份传真转诊，从促销活动前平均每月68份增加到研究期间每月412份。然而，近60%通过传真转诊的个人无法联系到以进行登记。与其他登记者（n=36273）相比，通过传真转诊的登记者（n=1616）更可能是女性，年龄≥35岁，高中以下学历，至少有一种合并症，未参保或参加公共保险。
医疗服务提供者通过传真发送的转诊信息得到广泛推广，以增加戒烟热线的参与度，并协助提供者实施戒烟治疗。本研究发现传真转诊的登记率较低；大量努力导致接受戒烟热线服务的患者相对较少。然而，传真转诊可能覆盖那些传统上较难获得戒烟辅助工具的人群。需要更多研究来确定如何高效且有效地从医疗服务提供者处获取传真转诊信息，提高传真转诊吸烟者的戒烟热线登记率，以及确定传真转诊对戒烟结果的影响程度。
