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Ability to Reach Low-Income Smokers Enrolled in a Randomised Controlled Trial Varies with Time of Month

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2017

Kathryn Hawk ,
Ruizhi Shi ,
June Weiss ,
Robert Makuch ,
Benjamin Toll  and
Steven L. Bernstein
Kathryn Hawk*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
Ruizhi Shi
Affiliation:
Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
June Weiss
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
Robert Makuch
Affiliation:
Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
Benjamin Toll
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
Steven L. Bernstein
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
*
Address for correspondence: Kathryn Hawk, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, 464 Congress Ave., Suite 260, New Haven, CT 06519, 203-737-3574. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Introduction: Because of financial pressures, low-income individuals sometimes run out of cellphone service towards the end of the month.

Aims: To determine if the time of month affects ability to reach low-income smokers by telephone.

Methods: We reviewed data from a completed trial in the United States of emergency department (ED)-initiated tobacco dependence treatment for low-income smokers at a busy, academic ED in an urban community. We recorded the date of each one-month follow-up call, and divided each month into four time blocks: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, and Week 4.

Results: A total of 2,049 phone calls were made to reach 769 participants. Of these calls, 677 (33%) resulted in contact; 88% of all participants were contacted. Using generalised estimating equations with Week 4 as reference, the odds of a successful contact at Weeks 1, 2, and 3 were, respectively, 1.52 (95% CI 1.18, 1.96), 1.30 (95% CI 1.01, 1.66), and 1.37 (95% CI 1.07, 1.76).

Conclusions: Study participants became progressively difficult to reach. This result may reflect low-income smokers’ decreased rates of active telephone service later in the month and suggests a mechanism to improve follow-up rates in future studies of low-income populations.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Journal of Smoking Cessation , Volume 13 , Issue 4 , December 2018 , pp. 227 - 232
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2017 

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