Maine's Tobacco Medication Program: compliance, patterns of use, and satisfaction among smokers.

INTRODUCTION

In 2002, Maine's Tobacco HelpLine began offering free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), including patch and/or gum, to uninsured adult smokers without NRT benefits. This study assessed compliance, NRT use patterns, and satisfaction among smokers calling the HelpLine and using free NRT.

METHODS

Telephone surveys were conducted in June-July 2005 among a sample of 541 eligible HelpLine callers authorized for NRT between February and March 2005, with 393 complete interviews (72.6% response rate). Descriptive analyses and chi-square tests were conducted, including tests for significant differences by demographics and NRT utilization.

RESULTS

Half of study respondents were aware of free NRT before calling the HelpLine and 95% reported NRT at least somewhat influenced their decision to call. Almost all respondents reported picking up NRT, had no problems obtaining it, and reported using it during a serious quit attempt. Most respondents reported uninterrupted NRT use without side effects and a mean duration of use at 39 days. A majority of respondents were very satisfied with their overall experience (88.2%) and reported this process as "very helpful" in their quit attempt (65.6%).

DISCUSSION

Maine's NRT service model effectively encouraged smokers to contact the HelpLine and use NRT, demonstrating valuable opportunity for quitlines to provide NRT access and increase demand among motivated smokers.