Quit Happens: A community clinic-based, multitiered smoking cessation intervention

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Tobacco Control

Background:

• Low-income populations experience disproportionately high rates of tobacco use.
• Effective community-based interventions are crucial for reducing smoking prevalence in vulnerable groups.
• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are vital access points for healthcare in underserved communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the "Quit Happens" program in reducing tobacco use among low-income patients.
• To assess the impact of a community-based tobacco cessation initiative within an FQHC setting.
• To determine the role of public health nurse leadership in facilitating smoking cessation.

Main Methods:

• A pre-post evaluation design was employed across nine clinics within a single FQHC system in Washington and Idaho.
• The "Quit Happens" program involved a public health nurse-led training for clinic staff using the 5A model.
• Patient smoking status (current and former smokers) was measured using data extracted from electronic health records.

Main Results:

• A significant decline in the percentage of current smokers was observed between 2016 and 2018, with an 18.7% reduction.
• The proportion of patients identified as former smokers doubled during the study period.
• The program demonstrated wide clinic and community support, correlating with reduced self-reported smoking behavior.

Conclusions:

• The "Quit Happens" program was effective in reducing tobacco use in a low-income population served by an FQHC.
• Public health nurse-led training and program development are key components for successful community-based tobacco cessation initiatives.
• Community-based tobacco cessation programs integrated into FQHCs can significantly contribute to reducing smoking rates.