American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Volume 55, Issue 6, 2018, Pages S196-S204
Outreach to California Medicaid Smokers for Asian Language Quitline Services (Article) (Open Access)
Saw A.* ,
Stewart S.L. ,
Cummins S.E. ,
Kohatsu N.D. ,
Tong E.K.
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a
Department of Psychology, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, United States
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b
Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
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c
Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
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d
Kohatsu Consulting, Carmichael, CA, United States
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e
Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
Abstract
Introduction: Asian male immigrants have high smoking rates. This article describes outreach approaches in the Medi-Cal Incentives to Quit Smoking project to incentivize California Medicaid (Medi-Cal) calls to the California Smokers’ Helpline (Helpline) Asian-language lines. Methods: Outreach efforts adapted Medi-Cal Incentives to Quit Smoking materials for the Asian-language lines. Community-based efforts included outreach at ethnic supermarkets and distribution through community networks. Leveraging the Helpline's Asian print media campaign, three press releases promoted Medi-Cal Incentives to Quit Smoking with Lunar New Year or community physician messaging. Medi-Cal all-household mailings with tracking codes also included the Asian-language lines. Helpline caller characteristics and trends were examined for project period 2012–2015. Analyses were conducted in 2018. Results: Among 4,306 Asian American Pacific Islander Medi-Cal callers, there were 37% Asian-speaking Asian Americans (9.5% Chinese, 17.2% Vietnamese, and 10.5% Korean); 44% English-speaking Asian Americans; 9% Pacific Islanders; and 10% Asian American Pacific Islander not otherwise specified. Almost 10% of Asian-speaking Asian Americans were activated by the financial incentive and this was similar for all-household mailings, although this was lower than the other groups. Medi-Cal calls to the Asian-language lines increased, from an average of 18 calls/month to 47 calls/month (162% increase) in the first and last 12 project months respectively. Community outreach was limited by timing and sustainability. The 3-month call totals before and after the Asian-language press releases were significantly greater for Asian-speaking calls than for English-speaking calls (Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel p<0.001, OR=1.70, 95% CI=1.45, 1.99). Conclusions: Whereas community outreach is challenging, promising population-based methods for in-language, culturally tailored outreach can include press releases with ethnic media and direct-to-member mailings. Supplement information: This article is part of a supplement entitled Advancing Smoking Cessation in California's Medicaid Population, which is sponsored by the California Department of Public Health. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd
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Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85056218219&doi=10.1016%2fj.amepre.2018.08.008&partnerID=40&md5=2f6d38a95244c3845d08f9c87229f187
DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2018.08.008
ISSN: 07493797
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English