Challenges faced by tobacco quitline services during the covid-19 pandemic

Background COVID-19 started in 2019 and spread rapidly throughout the world. The pandemic has presented a lot of public health challenges globally. The virus mostly affected the respiratory system, so tobacco consumers (smoke/smokeless) were at a higher risk of developing severe illnesses due to COVID-19. National Tobacco Quit Line Services (NTQLS) plays an important role in tobacco cessation. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was challenging to run these services. Methods There were several challenges faced by the NTQLS during the lockdown. The data from the NTQLS team was retrieved to analyze if the work from home and the pandemic had affected the number of attended calls and quitters during the pandemic (2020) and compared it with before the pandemic (2019). Results The results showed that before the pandemic, the attended calls were 36.4% whereas, during the pandemic, they were 27%. Quit-date set decreased during the pandemic (29.2%) compared to before the pandemic (41.8%). Furthermore, the number of quitters decreased during the pandemic (27.5%) compared to before the pandemic (35.9%). Conclusion Telephone counseling is effective in various countries to increase the quit attempts among the individuals during the pandemic, however, these services were jeopardized due to COVID-19 pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Telephone versus face-to-face consultation on smoking cessation at primary health care centers in Qatar during COVID-19 pandemic.

Smoking cessation leads to a reduction in risks of smoking-related morbidity and mortality. During the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, smoking cessation services were interrupted. Providing smoking cessation counseling by telephone could be a convenient and safe alternative to traditional face-to-face service. However, the effectiveness of telephone smoking cessation counseling has not yet been thoroughly investigated. This study evaluated telephone smoking cessation counseling compared to face-to-face consultations during the COVID-19 era. In addition, it investigated the association between sociodemographic and health-related factors and cessation rates. A retrospective cohort design was used. Participants were randomly selected from two lists: (1) telephone counseling and (2) face-to-face counseling in smoking cessation clinics in five primary health care centers in Qatar between March 2020 and March 2021. Cessation rates were compared between the two groups at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify the significant associations with smoking cessation. Smokers who underwent telephone consultations had significantly lower quit rates at all follow-ups compared to those who attended face-to-face visits. At the 12-week follow-up, the adjusted odd ratio for quitting through face-to-face consultations was 1.96 (95% CI [1.15-3.35]) times higher than that achieved through telephone consultations. In addition to receiving face-to-face counseling, higher self-efficacy to cease smoking was an independent predictor of successful cessation. Providing smoking cessation counseling by telephone could be a safer but less effective mode of delivery versus traditional face-to-face encounters during the pandemic.

An Integrated Smoking Cessation Intervention in the Primary Care Service System: An Intervention Mapping

Background: Smoking cessation is beneficial for smokers of all ages. Moreover, smokers who quit tobacco use benefit from COVID-19 risk avoidance. Objective(s): This project aims to develop a smoking cessation intervention protocol in the primary care service system. Method(s): Intervention Mapping guidelines for health promotion planning program was used as an instruction includes 1) need assessment, 2) aim determination, 3) selecting theory-based approaches selection and practical strategies and intervention design, 4) intervention development, 5) planning the implementation of the program and 6) planning the evaluation. Result(s): According to the needs, smoking cessation behavior was indicated as an outcome of the intervention. The socio-ecological model (Fig. 1) and the transtheoretical model were performed as the theoretical underpinning of the intervention. Moreover, the proactive multisession telephone counseling integrated with the smoking cessation service in the primary care service was used as an intervention for smokers. The average quit attempts after the quit date were 2.13 times (SD = 1.33), with an abstinence rate of 88.24 percent, according to early findings among the experimental group 30 days after the quit date. Conclusion(s): An intervention mapping can be used as a guideline to develop smoking cessation in the primary care setting. This study provides the smoking cessation protocol delivered for Thai smokers, particularly in the primary care service system, to promote sustainable well-being among Thais. Copyright © 2022 Thanomsat et al.

Higher Acceptance of Videotelephonic Counseling Formats in Psychosomatic Medicine in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare system in general and psychosomatics in particular were forced to change counseling-specific services and break up established structures. At the beginning of 2020, phone as well as videotelephonic counseling options had to be quickly established. Methods: Patients (n = 278) of the department of psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy at the University Hospital Tübingen were asked to complete an ad hoc questionnaire to assess the acceptance of the counseling format following each counseling session (office, phone, video) in the period between July 2020 and February 2021. Results: Satisfaction and acceptance of the three counseling formats (office, phone, video) were rated (1-6) on average as "good" to "very good" in the three subgroups (1.5 ± 0.9). Likewise, the "therapeutic relationship" scored high in all three subgroups in terms of establishing a strong therapeutic relationship (4.4 ± 1.5). "Hurdles" were rated as low and tolerable (1.8 ± 1.3). The global assessment of therapeutic contact was significantly better in the video group compared to phone and office consultation (p < 0.05). Predictor analyses showed that there was an influence of age, but not gender, on the acceptance of digital counseling formats in the present sample [F (1, 277) = 4.50, p = 0.04]. Discussion & Conclusion: Digital consultation formats were perceived by patients as promising addition to the classic face-to-face setting. Digital formats (phone, video) were not generally preferred to face-to-face counseling, but especially video counseling was accepted and perceived with great satisfaction and acceptance. Accordingly, the additional use of digital counseling formats, especially video-telephony, could be an opportunity to enrich the existing structures also after the pandemic.

Acceptance of Psycho-Oncological Counseling Formats in a Cancer Counseling Center during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Exploratory Care Study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic made it necessary to change established structures of medical counseling services and quickly establish digital counseling formats to ensure continuity of care. In this context, we offered telephone and video-telephonic counseling in addition to traditional face-to-face counseling in the office. METHODS: Patients (n = 100) of the Cancer Counseling Center, Tübingen, were asked to complete a questionnaire to assess the acceptance of the counseling format following each counseling session (office, telephone, and video) in the period between July 2020 and February 2021. The questionnaire included the subject areas of patient characterization, assessment of therapeutic contact, therapeutic relationship, and hurdles and was used in this exploratory care study. RESULTS: The satisfaction and acceptance of the three counseling formats (office, telephone, and video) were rated as "good" to "very good" in the three subgroups (range 1-6, office M = 1.2, telephone M = 1.3, video M = 1.4). Likewise, the "therapeutic relationship" achieved high ratings in terms of establishment of a therapeutic relationship in all three subgroups (office M = 5.7, telephone M = 5.0, video M = 5.0). The type of contact (office and video counseling) achieved a significant main effect on the therapeutic relationship for items such as "I believe that counseling is helping me" (F(2,97) = 4.80, p = 0.01) and "I feel that I can rely on the counselor/therapist" (F(2,97) = 3.29, p = 0.04). The "hurdles" were rated as minor and tolerable (office M = 1.3, telephone M = 1.3, video M = 1.4). Predictor analyses showed that there was no effect of age and gender on the acceptance of digital counseling formats in the present sample. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: On the basis of this survey, it can be concluded that digital counseling formats were perceived by patients as a promising addition to the classic face-to-face setting. In addition, it can be stated that the digital formats (telephone and video) were not generally preferred to face-to-face counseling, but that the innovative telecounseling was accepted and perceived with great satisfaction and acceptance. Accordingly, the additional use of digital counseling formats could be an opportunity to enrich and expand the existing presence structures also after the COVID-19 pandemic.