Policy Predictors of Participation in Adult Tobacco Cessation Programs

This article examines the effect of tobacco cessation treatment factors and environmental, structural, and client factors on participation in tobacco cessation programs among adults in a tobacco growing state. A pooled time series cross-sectional research design was used to analyze the primary and secondary data collected at the population level (N = 140 Health Department Service Areas; HDSA). Results indicated that for every cessation program added, there would be an increase in participation of 4 adults per 10,000 smokers, and for every $1.00 per capita spent on counteradvertising, there would be an increase in participation of 26 adults per 10,000 smokers. Local health departments need to initiate or increase counteradvertising, targeting younger adults and HDSAs with higher per capita tobacco production; enhance marketing efforts for cessation; and increase the number of cessation programs offered by HDSAs to as many as are feasible and affordable.