Access to nicotine replacement therapy as part of a statewide tobacco telephone helpline

Purpose. To describe change in Minnesota's QUITPLAN helpline operations following provision of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to multisession counseling enrollees. Methods. NRT access began September 2002. Call volume is reported from September 2001 to May 2003 (pre-NRT = 2734, post-NRT = 12,536). A survey administered at 2 weeks assesses self-reported connection to services (response rate 80%, n = 538/670, pre-NRT vs. 67%, n = 400/595, post-NRT, p < .001). Results. Provision of NRT was followed by an increase in call volume (439 ± 229 calls/month January through May pre-NRT vs. 1292 ± 308 calls/month January through May post-NRT, p = .001). Enrollment in multisession counseling increased (17.4% pre-NRT vs. 75.3% post-NRT, p < .001). Among survey respondents, connection to services was not changed (83.8% pre-NRT vs. 88.0% post-NRT, p = .072). At 2 weeks, more respondents who enrolled in multisession counseling reported having a follow-up call scheduled (43.9% pre-NRT vs. 64.1% post-NRT, p = .001). Conclusions. This is an observational study. Providing NRT as part of a statewide helpline may increase recruitment and encourage callers to enroll in multisession counseling.