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.
  • a Department of Psychology, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, United States
  • b Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
  • c Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
  • d Kohatsu Consulting, Carmichael, CA, United States
  • 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

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

household health promotion community care human middle aged controlled study Aged direct-to-consumer advertizing Direct-to-Consumer Advertising hotline language financial management procedures public relations speech United States smoking cessation Humans migrant smoking California Asian Americans male Emigrants and Immigrants Asian American Pacific Islander female pilot study Smokers Article postal mail program evaluation adult Postal Service human experiment physician patient participation Hotlines medicaid Community-Institutional Relations Pilot Projects Marketing of Health Services

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