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Tob Control 2007;16:i24-i29 doi:10.1136/tc.2007.020222
  • SUPPLEMENT

The association between advertising and calls to a tobacco quitline

  1. Craig H Mosbaek1,
  2. Donald F Austin2,
  3. Michael J Stark1,
  4. Lori C Lambert2
  1. 1
    Program Design and Evaluation Services, Multnomah County Health Department and Oregon Department of Human Services, Portland, OR, USA
  2. 2
    Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
  1. Craig H Mosbaek, MPH, 800 NE Oregon Street, Portland, OR 97232, USA; craig.mosbaek{at}state.or.us
  • Received 24 January 2007
  • Accepted 13 August 2007

Abstract

Objective: This study assessed the cost effectiveness of different types of television and radio advertisements and the time of day in which advertisements were placed in generating calls to the Oregon tobacco quitline.

Design: Cost effectiveness was measured by cost per call, calculated as the cost of advertising divided by the number of quitline calls generated by that advertising. Advertising was bought in one-week or two-week blocks and included 27 daytime television buys, 22 evening television buys and 31 radio buys.

Results: Cost effectiveness varied widely by medium, time of day and advertisement used. Daytime television was seven times more cost effective than evening television and also more cost effective than radio. The most effective advertisements at generating quitline calls were real life testimonials by people who lost family members to tobacco and advertisements that deal practically with how to quit.

Conclusions: Placement of television advertisements during the day versus the evening can increase an advertisement’s effectiveness in generating calls to a quitline. Some advertising messages were more effective than others in generating calls to a quitline. Quitline providers can apply findings from previous research when planning media campaigns. In addition, call volume should be monitored in order to assess the cost effectiveness of different strategies to promote use of the quitline.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: The authors do not have any competing interests to report.

  • Funding: This work was funded by the Oregon Tobacco Prevention and Education Program.

  • Abbreviations:
    BRFSS
    Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System
    ODHS
    Oregon Department of Human Services
    OTQL
    Oregon tobacco quitline
    TRPs
    target rating points

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