Formative Evaluation of a Practice-Based Smoking Cessation Program for Diverse Populations
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Posted by: Natalia Gromov
Health
Educ Behav. 2013 Nov 26. [Epub ahead of print]
Mahoney
MC, Erwin
DO, Widman
C, Masucci
Twarozek A, Saad-Harfouche
FG, Underwood
W 3rd, Fox
CH.
Smoking rates are higher among those living at or below
poverty and among persons with lower levels of education. We report on a
formative research project examining patient perceptions of tobacco cessation
strategies among diverse, low socioeconomic, urban smokers cared for in
community-based primary care medical offices. Method. We conducted 10 focus
groups among low socioeconomic status participants recruited from urban primary
care medical offices in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, New York. Participants included
current or former smokers, who were stratified by age-group (18-39 years and
40+ years). The focus groups discussed perceptions of tobacco cessation
strategies, previous quit attempts, and use/attitudes regarding technology and
social media as potential platforms for cessation support. Results.
Participants (n = 96) included predominantly African Americans (n = 62, 65%)
and European Americans (n = 16, 16%); 56% were older than 40 years and 92% were
low income. Most participants were supportive of cessation message delivery via
phone; however, the age-groups varied in their attitudes on quitting smoking,
desired frequency of phone contacts, and social media usage. Participants aged
18 to 39 years reported more Internet use, greater use of text messaging, and
were more open to health information via social media. Conclusions. Based on
significant variation between younger and older smokers' perceptions of tobacco
addiction and use of communication technologies, it appears reasonable to
stratify the content and platform of health messaging by the target age-group.
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