Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander utilisation of the Quitline service for smoking cessation in South Australia
Suzanne Cosh A C , Lauren Maksimovic A , Kerry Ettridge A , David Copley B and Jacqueline A. Bowden AA Tobacco Control Research and Evaluation Program, Cancer Council South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5063, Australia.
B QuitSA, Cancer Council South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5063, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: tcre@cancersa.org.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 19(2) 113-118 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY11152
Submitted: 6 December 2011 Accepted: 26 April 2012 Published: 4 June 2012
Abstract
Smoking prevalence among Indigenous Australians far exceeds that of non-Indigenous Australians and is considered the greatest contributor to burden of disease for Indigenous Australians. The Quitline is a primary intervention for facilitating smoking cessation and, given the health implications of tobacco use, maximising its effectiveness for Indigenous Australians is imperative. However, the utilisation and effectiveness of this service within the Indigenous Australian population has not been examined. This study explores the utilisation of the South Australian Quitline by smokers identifying as Indigenous Australian. Quitline counsellors collected data regarding demographic characteristics, and smoking and quitting behaviour from Quitline callers in 2010. Results indicated that the proportion of Indigenous and non-Indigenous smokers who registered for the service was comparable. Demographic variables and smoking addiction at time of registration with the Quitline were similar for Indigenous and non-Indigenous callers. However, results indicated that Indigenous callers received significantly fewer callbacks than non-Indigenous callers and were significantly less likely to set a quit date. Significantly fewer Indigenous callers reported that they were still successfully quit at 3 months. Thus, Indigenous Australian callers may be less engaged with the Quitline and further research is required exploring whether the service could be tailored to make it more engaging for Indigenous Australians who smoke.
Additional keywords: Indigenous health, intervention, smoker, telephone counselling, tobacco.
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2006a) Census data 2006. (Commonwealth of Australia: Canberra) Available at http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/ViewData? [Verified 27 March 2011]Australian Bureau of Statistics (2006b) ‘Census of population and housing: socio-economic indexes for areas (SEIFA), Australia – data only, 2006.’ (Commonwealth of Australia: Canberra)
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2009) ‘National health survey: summary of results, 2007–08.’ (Commonwealth of Australia: Canberra)
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2010a) ‘The health and welfare of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, October 2010.’ (Commonwealth of Australia: Canberra)
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2010b) ‘National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social survey, 2008.’ (Commonwealth of Australia: Canberra)
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2004) ‘Rural, regional and remote health: a guide to remoteness classifications.’ (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare: Canberra)
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2011) ‘Life expectancy and mortality of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.’ Cat. no. IHW 51. (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare: Canberra)
Boles M, Rohde K, He H, Maher JE, Stark MJ, Fenaughty A, O’Connor T (2009) Effectiveness of a tobacco quitline in an indigenous population: a comparison between Alaska Native people and other first-time quitline callers who set a quit date. International Journal of Circumpolar Health 68, 170–181.
| Effectiveness of a tobacco quitline in an indigenous population: a comparison between Alaska Native people and other first-time quitline callers who set a quit date.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Borland R, Segan C, Livingston P, Owen N (2001) The effectiveness of callback counselling for smoking cessation: a randomized trial. Addiction 96, 881–889.
| The effectiveness of callback counselling for smoking cessation: a randomized trial.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MzjtFCnuw%3D%3D&md5=36e0455ee40280142fc12dd944bb3a13CAS |
Borland R, Pigott R, Rintoul D, Shore S, Young S (2002) ‘Barriers to access of smoking cessation programs, nicotine replacement therapy and other pharmacotherapies for the general Australian population and at risk population groups.’ (Department of Health and Ageing: Canberra)
Galdas PM, Cheater F, Marshall P (2005) Men and health help-seeking behaviour: literature review. Journal of Advanced Nursing 49, 616–623.
| Men and health help-seeking behaviour: literature review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Goodwin RD, Pagura J, Spiwak R, Lemeshow AR, Sareen J (2011) Predictors of persistent nicotine dependence among adults in the United States. Drug and alcohol dependence 118, 127–133.
Hayward LM, Campbell HS, Sutherland-Brown C (2007) Aboriginal users of Canadian quitlines: an exploratory analysis. Tobacco Control 16, i60–i64.
| Aboriginal users of Canadian quitlines: an exploratory analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ivers RG (2003) A review of tobacco interventions for Indigenous Australians. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 27, 294–299.
| A review of tobacco interventions for Indigenous Australians.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lawrence D, Mitrou F, Zubrick SR (2009) Smoking and mental illness: results from population surveys in Australia and the United States. BMC Public Health 9, 285
| Smoking and mental illness: results from population surveys in Australia and the United States.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pfizer Pharmaceuticals (2008) New safety information regarding Champix® (varenicline tartrate). (Health Canada: Ontario) Available at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/medeff/advisories-avis/prof/_2008/champix_hpc-cps-eng.php [Verified 27 April 2012]
Power J, Grealy C, Rintoul D (2009) Tobacco interventions for Indigenous Australians: A review of current evidence. Health Promotion Journal of Australia 20, 186–194.
Quit Group, Ministry of Health (2006) ‘Maori smoking and tobacco use: fact sheet 1.’ (Ministry of Health: Wellington)
Quit Group, Ministry of Health (2009) ‘Maori smoking and tobacco use 2009.’ (Ministry of Health: Wellington)
Scollo MM, Winstanley MH, eds (2008) Chapter 8. Tobacco use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. In ‘Tobacco in Australia: facts and issues’. (Cancer Council Victoria: Victoria)
Shahid S, Finn L, Bessarab D, Thompson SC (2009) Understanding, beliefs and perspectives of Aborginal people in Western Australia about cancer and its impact on access to cancer services. BMC Health Services Research 9, 132
| Understanding, beliefs and perspectives of Aborginal people in Western Australia about cancer and its impact on access to cancer services.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stewart HS, Bowden JA, Bayly MC, Sharplin GR, Durkin SJ, Miller CL, Givans SE, Warne CD, Wakefield MA (2011) Potential effectiveness of specific anti-smoking mass media advertisements among Australian Indigenous smokers. Health Education Research 26, 961–975.
| Potential effectiveness of specific anti-smoking mass media advertisements among Australian Indigenous smokers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thomas DP, Briggs V, Anderson IPS, Cunningham J (2008) The social determinants of being an Indigenous non-smoker. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 32, 110–116.
| The social determinants of being an Indigenous non-smoker.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thompson M (2010) What are Indigenous health workers saying about their smoking status: does it prevent them providing tobacco information and/or quit support to the community? Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Journal 34, 3–8.
Tobacco Control Research and Evaluation (2010) ‘Key smoking statistics for SA – 2009.’ (Cancer Council SA: Adelaide)
Vos T, Barker B, Begg S, Stanley L, Lopez AD (2009) Burden of disease and injury in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: the Indigenous health gap. International Journal of Epidemiology 38, 470–477.
| Burden of disease and injury in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: the Indigenous health gap.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wilson N, Weerasekera D, Borland R, Edwards R, Bullen C, Li J (2010) Use of a national Quitline and variation in use by smoker characteristics: ITC Project New Zealand. Nicotine & Tobacco Research 12, S78–S84.
| Use of a national Quitline and variation in use by smoker characteristics: ITC Project New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
