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

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.

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.

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%).

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.