Evaluation of Peer Telephone Cessation Counseling for Smokers

Background: As part of the nurse-administered Tobacco Tactics intervention, we developed a
novel program to train veterans from Voluntary Services to provide peer telephone cessation
counseling calls.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to conduct an in-depth evaluation of the peer
telephone cessation counseling that has been implemented and continues to be implemented at
the Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital as part of the Tobacco Tactics intervention.

Methods: Using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM)
framework, this quasi-experimental study will collect both quantitative and qualitative data
to evaluate the peer telephone cessation counseling component of the Tobacco Tactics
intervention. The Reach of the program will be evaluated by determining differences in the
demographics, health characteristics, and smoking characteristics of those who do and do not
participate in the peer telephone cessation counseling. The Effectiveness of the program
will be evaluated by determining if there were differences in quit rates between those that
do and do not participate in the peer telephone cessation counseling. The Adoption and
Implementation of the program will be evaluated by determining the satisfaction with the
counseling, reasons for nonparticipation, the type and quality of counseling actually
provided, and barriers and facilitators to implementing the counseling as perceived by
staff. The Maintenance of the program will be evaluated by determining the estimated costs
of implementing the peer telephone cessation counseling.

Impact: The Tobacco Use/Smoking Cessation goal of the VA Substance Use Disorders (SUD)
Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI) is to develop, implement and evaluate
cost-effective interventions for increasing access to and use of evidence-based smoking
cessation treatment. Telephone counseling has been shown to be efficacious and teaching
volunteer veterans to provide this service is an option that is likely to be cost effective.
Hence, evaluating the peer cessation telephone counseling program at the Ann Arbor VA will
provide valuable information as to whether or not the program is a viable option for wider
scale dissemination.

Inclusion Criteria:

- The inclusion criteria will be those veterans who received the Tobacco Tactics
intervention as an inpatient in the hospital.

Exclusion Criteria:

- The exclusion criteria will be those veterans who are too ill or impaired to consent.