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Clinical trial registration: looking back and moving ahead
Author(s) -
Laine Christine,
Horton Richard,
De Angelis Catherine,
Drazen Jeffrey M,
Frizelle Frank A,
Godlee Fiona,
Haug Charlotte,
Hébert Paul C,
Kotzin Sheldon,
Marusic Ana,
Sahni Peush,
Schroeder Torben V,
Sox Harold C,
Van Der Weyden Martin B,
Verheugt Freek W A
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2007.tb01074.x
Subject(s) - editor in chief , annals , library science , associate editor , medicine , classics , management , history , computer science , economics
Aims To identify trends in the demographic and smoking characteristics of new callers to the New Zealand Quitline, a national free-phone smoking cessation service, between 2001 and 2005. Methods Demographic and smoking behaviour of Quitline callers were routinely collected by Quit Advisors over the phone. Characteristics of new callers were extracted from the client database, and compared across 5 years to determine changes over time. Results Statistically significant differences were found in all variables (except for gender) across the 5-year period. The results show an increased proportion of callers are under 25 years old (67% increase), started smoking at 15 years old or older (10% increase), and/or have smoked for less than 10 years (86% increase). There is also an increased proportion of callers smoking roll-your-own cigarettes (13% increase). In terms of ethnicity, the proportion of Pacific people using the Quitline increased by 54%, while the proportion of Māori callers fluctuated at just above 20% of all new callers. The proportion of pregnant callers also increased over time (127% increase) although the overall percent remains small. Conclusions The results indicate notable changes in the characteristics of new Quitline callers between 2001 and 2005. Such information will be of benefit to the future design of Quitline marketing and adapting service provision to best meet the needs of callers. New Zealand’s national free-phone Quitline was established in 1999. Since then, no analysis has been conducted to identify trends in characteristics of callers over time. Similar research appears to be lacking in other countries, where researchers have built profiles using accumulated statistics without addressing changes over time. This study therefore aimed to explore this aspect by analysing the demographic and smoking characteristics of new callers registering with the New Zealand Quitline during the 5 years from 2001 to 2005. In November 2000, the New Zealand Quitline became a world-first by providing heavily subsidised nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in the form of patches and gum as an adjunct to its telephone smoking cessation service. Prior to the introduction of NRT, Quitline callers received information and practical strategies for quitting, along with proactive follow-up calls from a Quit Advisor for quit support and advice. With the new service, callers are eligible to receive NRT when certain conditions are met (such as a satisfactory medical history and a commitment to quit). The availability of heavily subsidised NRT (a 92% reduction in the over-the-counter price) was well received by the smoking population, evidenced in the sharp increase of callers that was sustained for several years. This was similar to a more recent experience in Minnesota, USA where the Quitline offering free patches and gum to callers.