Tobacco Quitline utilization compared with cigarette smoking prevalence in Virginia across rurality and Appalachian Status, 2011-2019

CONCLUSION: A significant gap exists between cigarette smoking prevalence and Quitline utilization, particularly in underserved rural and Appalachian areas, despite no clear barriers to accessing this remote cessation resource.IMPLICATION: The study underscores persistent disparities in smoking rates, with rural and Appalachian regions in the United States facing higher smoking prevalence and limited utilization of Quitline services. Despite no clear barriers to access, the gap between smoking prevalence and Quitline usage remains significant, particularly in underserved areas. Tailoring interventions to address regional disparities and factors like tobacco agriculture and physician availability is essential to reduce smoking rates and improve Quitline utilization in these communities.PMID:38707246 | PMC:PMC11066663 | DOI:10.1016/j.pmedr.2024.102716
Source: Rural Remote Health - Category: Rural Health Authors: Source Type: research