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Predictors of treatment engagement in a group-based, telehealth smoking cessation program
Sarah M Noone1,2, Emily A Atkinson1, Andrea C King1,3
1University of Chicago, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, United States of America.
Objectives:
Tobacco-related health disparities persist across age and socioeconomic status. Individual-level factors appear to influence engagement in smoking cessation treatment; however, findings have been mixed, with limited focus on telehealth treatment. The present study examined sociodemographic predictors of engagement in a telehealth smoking cessation program.
Methods:
Patients were primarily Black (78%), female (72%), and middle-aged or older (mean age = 58.2, range 21-92 years) adults who participated in a telehealth group smoking cessation program from 2020 to 2024 (N = 538). Engagement was defined as total sessions attended, treatment completion, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) requests, and video vs. dial-in audio-only participation.
Results:
Patients were more likely to complete treatment if they were older (p < .001) or White (p = .006). Patients were more likely to engage with telehealth treatment via video vs. dial-in audio-only if they were White (p = .003), employed (p = .02), and completed some college (p = .01).
Conclusions:
This study shows differences in treatment engagement based on individual-level factors; older age, White race, and having higher education was predictive of increased engagement. Increased treatment accessibility may improve engagement among those most at risk for smoking-related harms. Findings highlight the program's strength in engaging older patients in telehealth.
