Publications by authors named "Carol A Essenmacher"
Background And Aims: Cost-effectiveness studies in randomized clinical trials have shown that tobacco cessation pharmacotherapy is among the most cost-effective of health-care interventions. Clinical trial eligibility criteria and treatment protocols may not be followed in actual practice. This study aimed to determine whether tobacco cessation pharmacotherapy is cost-effective in real-world settings.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- A study analyzed the use of tobacco cessation medications among Veterans from 2004 to 2013, highlighting inconsistent access for specific subgroups.
- Results showed that pharmacotherapy utilization nearly doubled, from 13.8% to 25.6%, but certain groups, including those with psychiatric disorders and younger Veterans, were more likely to receive it.
- The findings suggest that improving access to cessation medications for under-treated populations, particularly those with medical comorbidities, could enhance smoking cessation outcomes.
Introduction: In 2003, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) implemented a directive that cessation pharmacotherapy be made available to all who use tobacco and are interested in quitting. Despite the efficacy of cessation pharmacotherapy shown in clinical trials, the generalisability of the results in real-world settings has been challenged. Hence, the specific aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of cessation pharmacotherapies in the VHA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: This study determined if comorbidities predicted motivation to quit smoking among smokers treated in a primarily psychiatric Veterans Affairs facility.
Design And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of smokers (N = 117).
Findings: Multivariate analyses showed a history of arthritis, diabetes, lung disease, or stroke predicted motivation to quit smoking (p < .