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Nicotine & Tobacco Research Advance Access published online on April 14, 2009
Nicotine & Tobacco Research, doi:10.1093/ntr/ntp025
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Short-term impact of new smoke-free legislation on the utilization of a quitline in Hong Kong

Sophia S. C. Chan, David C. N. Wong, Daniel Y. T. Fong, Angela Y. M. Leung, Yim-Wah Mak, Debbie O. B. Lam and Tai-Hing Lam

Sophia S. C. Chan, Ph.D., Department of Nursing Studies, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
David C. N. Wong, M.Sc., Department of Nursing Studies, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
Daniel Y. T. Fong, Ph.D., Department of Nursing Studies, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
Angela Y. M. Leung, Ph.D., Department of Nursing Studies, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
Yim-Wah Mak, Ph.D., Department of Nursing Studies, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
Debbie O. B. Lam, Ph.D., Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
Tai-Hing Lam, M.D., M.Sc., Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

Corresponding Author: Sophia S. C. Chan, Ph.D., Department of Nursing Studies, University of Hong Kong, 4/F M.W. Mong Block, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. Telephone: +852 28192622; Fax: +852 21684051; E-mail: nssophia{at}hkucc.hku.hk


  Abstract

Introduction: New smoke-free legislation implemented in Hong Kong on 1 January 2007, prohibited smoking in the vast majority of indoor workplaces and public places. Experiences of western countries indicated that the need for smoking cessation services would increase after enactment of the smoke-free legislation, but no systematic study of this issue has been undertaken in Southeast Asia. The present study aimed to examine the impact of smoke-free legislation in promoting smoking cessation through a local quitline.

Methods: The present study reports the results of a telephone survey using interrupted time-series analysis. We operated a toll-free smoking cessation hotline (quitline) for the general public from August 2005 to September 2007. The present study measured the percent change in the number of telephone calls received and handled before and after the smoke-free legislation.

Results: We evaluated the quitline for 9-month periods before (January–September 2006) and after (January–September 2007) the smoke-free legislation was implemented. The call rate in the initial period was 27.6 per month compared with 34.9 per month after enactment of the legislation, a 26% increase. Based on interrupted time-series models, the initial impact of the smoke-free legislation was to increase the number of telephone calls received and handled per week (p < .001), but the impact was temporal and deteriorated within 6 months.

Discussion: Implementation of the new smoke-free legislation had a short-term effect in promoting the utilization of a smoking cessation quitline in Hong Kong. A systematic and long-term tobacco control campaign should be combined with smoke-free legislation to promote and sustain smokers’ interests in smoking cessation.

Received: April 18, 2008; Accepted: November 1, 2008
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