The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends quitline interventions, particularly proactive quitlines (i.e., those that offer follow-up counseling calls), to increase tobacco cessation among clients interested in quitting. Quitlines use the telephone to provide evidence-based behavioral counseling and support to help tobacco users who want to quit. Counseling is provided by trained cessation specialists who follow standardized protocols that may include several sessions delivered over 1 or more months. Quitline counseling is widely accessible, convenient to use, and generally provided at no cost to users. Content may be adapted for specific populations, and tailored for individual clients. Counseling may be reactive (tobacco user or recent quitter initiates contacts), or proactive (tobacco user or cessation specialist makes initial contact, and the cessation specialist schedules follow-up calls).

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Effect Behavioral Change, Reduce Morbidity, Reduce Mortality, Reduce Risk or Incidence of Disease or Condition, Public Health, Community- & Faith-Based Organizations, Behavioral & Social, Secondary Prevention, Technology-based, Families & Households