The prevalence of unrecognized tobacco use among young adults.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of smoking among young adults and to describe their characteristics.

Methods: Data were examined from the Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey, a telephone survey of 8821 residents with a sample of 1205 young adults.

Results: Prevalence was 39% using the adolescent definition and 32% using the adult definition.

A randomized trial of a pay-for-performance program targeting clinician referral to a state tobacco quitline.

Background: Tobacco quitlines offer clinicians a means to connect their patients with evidence-based treatments. Innovative methods are needed to increase clinician referral.

Methods: This is a clinic randomized trial that compared usual care (n = 25 clinics) vs a pay-for-performance program (intervention) offering $5000 for 50 quitline referrals (n = 24 clinics).

The impact of smoking-cessation intervention by multiple health professionals.

Background: Smokers have contact with many different types of health professionals. The impact of tobacco intervention by multiple types of heath professionals is not known.

Methods And Materials: As part of the 2003 Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey, smokers (n=1723) reported on tobacco treatment by medical doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, or other health professionals.

The relationship of stage of change for smoking cessation to stage of change for fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity in a health plan population.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between stage of change for smoking cessation and stage of change for (1) fruit and vegetable consumption and (2) physical activity.

Design: The data come from a cross-sectional telephone survey administered to a stratified random sample of health plan members (n = 9675).

Setting: This study was conducted at a mixed-model health plan with approximately 1 million adult members.

The role of health plans in tobacco control.

Health plans play an important role in tobacco control. In this chapter we present an overview of the scientific research on health plan involvement in clinical and community interventions regarding tobacco use. Also included are interventions that have been undertaken by health plans to lower smoking rates among their members and the general population.