Combining Tobacco Cessation and Radon Testing: AMultiagency Collaboration to Promote The Health Of Montanans

LAURA S. LARSSON

MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY

Problem

Exposure to indoor radon and tobacco smoke have a synergistic effect meaning that the combined risk for lung cancer is more than additive

Radon Level

If 1,000 people who smoked were exposed to this level over a lifetime*...

If 1,000 people who never smoked were exposed to this level over a lifetime*...

WHAT TO DO:Stop smoking and...

20 pCi/L About 260 people could get lung cancer

About 36 people could get lung cancer

Fix your home

8 pCi/L About 120 people could get lung cancer

About 15 people could get lung cancer

Fix your home

4 pCi/L About 62 people could get lung cancer

About 7 people could get lung cancer

Fix your home

Radon Risk if You Smokefrom "A Citizen's Guide to Radon: The Guide to Protecting Yourself and Your Family From Radon"

Method-Step 1—Make Friends

Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program (MTUPP)

Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)

Montana Cancer Coalition

Gallatin and Ravalli County Tobacco Prevention Specialists

Gallatin and Ravalli County Health Officers

Method-Step 2—Pilot Test

A one-page radon background and risk document was included in the orientation packets for “Quit Line” enrollees attempting to quit smoking cigarettes

Free radon kits by mail

Timeline: January 1, 2014 - May 15, 2014

600 invitations for a free radon test kit sent

Results

14 (2.3%) accepted the invitation

2 (14.3%) completed the test kit they requested

Neither had actionable indoor radon levels

Discussion

Strong potential—600 initiations in 5 months

Mailing is the wrong approach

Future work is to get on the script January is Radon Awareness Month

Would follow-up coaching increase test-kit completion?

Or are individuals attempting to quit smoking too overwhelmed or preoccupied to test?

Your Questions and Comments