Access to nicotine replacement therapy as part of a Statewide Tobacco Telephone Helpline

Purpose. To describe change in Minnesota's QUITPLAN helpline operations-following provision of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to multisession counseling enrollees. Methods. NRT access began September 2002. Call volume is reported from September 2001 to May 2003 (pre-NRT = 2734, post-NRT = 12,536). A survey administered at 2 weeks assesses self-reported connection to services (response rate 80 %, n 5381670, pre-NRT vs. 67%, n = 4001595, post-NRT, p <.001). Results. Provision of NRT was,followed by an increase in call volume (439 +/- 229 calls/month January through May pre-NRT vs. 1292 +/- 308 calls/month.lanuary through May post-NRT, p =. 001). Enrollment in multisession counseling increased (17.4 % pre-NRT vs. 75.3 % post-NRT, p < . 001). Among survey respondents, connection to services was not changed (83.8% pre-NRT vs. 88.0% post-NRT, p = .072). At 2 weeks, more respondents who enrolled in multisession counseling reported having a follow-up call scheduled (43.9 % pre-NRT vs. 64.1 % post NRT, p =. 001). Conclusions. This is an observational study. Providing NRT as part of a statewide helpline may increase recruitment and encourage callers to enroll in multisession counseling.