Reaching those most in need: Participation in a planned parenthood smokingcessation program

We evaluated the representativeness of women approached and enrolled in a b rief smoking cessation intervention conducted in Planned parenthood clinics . In this effectiveness study, regular clinic staff were trained to identif y, offer participation, and counsel willing smoking clients as part of thei r clinic visit. Chart audits were conducted to determine the percent of cli ents who had smoking status identified, as well as the percent and characte ristics of potentially eligible clients who were not approached. Baseline a nd non-participant questionnaires were analyzed to determine participation rate and characteristics of those participating versus those not participat ing. Smoking status was documented in 99% of charts. Seventy percent of eli gible smokers were approached about study participation and 74% of those ap proached participated. There were no significant differences between those approached and those not approached or between those who participated versu s those who did not on a host of sociodemographic variables. This project w as able to approach and attract a representative sample of young, lower inc ome women to participate in a brief, clinic-based smoking cessation program .