Tobacco EducationTobacco Education and Lung Health Study (TEAL)

Phone-based Tobacco Treatment, Nicotine Replacement, and Stepped Care Intervention

Standard tobacco quitline protocol, including coaching, nicotine replacement, and web-, and text-based resources.

In the MedStar Health System (MHS) arm, we offer 5 phone sessions with a tobacco treatment specialist (TTS) during the first 3 months of treatment plus combination nicotine replacement (patches and lozenges). For those who have not quit at 3 months, 50% will be randomly assigned to stepped care (3 phone sessions with RN/NP + prescription medications as needed) vs. the continued TTS + NRT intervention. Those who have quit at 3 months will be offered 3 relapse prevention phone sessions with the TTS. Thus, all are offered 8 sessions. The TTS will use motivational interviewing to address ambivalence about quitting, education about the risks of continued smoking, encouragement to use and adhere to NRT, and the impact of the screening result (the teachable moment) by framing it as a potential motivator or opportunity to reduce future health risks and to maximize quality of life.

In the Quitline E-Referral arm, an e-referral will be generated from the EHR by our staff, will be signed by the LCS ordering provider and sent to the quitline through the closed-looped quitline's success.58-61,123 The quitline is an important comparator, given that it is an evidence-based and low-cost intervention already employed by many LCS sites system and the standard quitline protocol will then occur: 5 proactive contact attempts, up to 5 sessions, and up to 8 weeks of free NRT (depending on supplies). Quitline counselors are highly trained to conduct cessation treatment and extensive research has validated the quitline's success. The quitline is an important comparator, given that it is an evidence-based and low-cost intervention already employed by many LCS sites.