American journal of preventive medicine
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Quitlines have been established as an effective, evidence-based, population-wide strategy to deliver smoking-cessation treatment, and are now available in most states across America. However, little is known about the organization, financing, promotion, and cost of state quitlines. ⋯ A large majority of U.S. smokers live in states with tobacco quitlines, which provide cessation treatment at a remarkably modest per capita cost. There is a great deal of congruence in services and promotional strategies among states. Further research is required to determine how external factors such as the federal National Network of Tobacco Cessation Quitlines funding for state quitlines and the availability of a national portal number (1-800-QUITNOW), both implemented in 2004, affect state quitlines. Additional research to evaluate the cost effectiveness of quitline services is also warranted.
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Two of the major goals of tobacco prevention and control activities are to change social norms and influence policy. The news media can play an important role for achieving both goals. ⋯ Tobacco-related media coverage can be systematically tracked and characterized. These findings may have value to public health researchers and policymakers who wish to evaluate efforts to curb tobacco-related disease.