142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

305046
Smoking in Poor Rural Women: A systematic review of the literature

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Wednesday, November 19, 2014 : 9:15 AM - 9:30 AM

Star Mitchell, MSN , School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Shawn M. Kneipp, PhD , School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Background:  Despite having many smoking cessation programs available nationwide, smoking rates remain higher, and are declining at a much slower rate among rural women who are poor, suggesting existing interventions are not effective for this population. These higher rates of smoking result in a disproportionately higher burden of cancer, cardiovascular, and other health problems more common in rural residents; thus, efforts to find effective interventions for this group should be continued. The purpose of this systematic review of the literature was to assess the congruency of findings around factors that influence smoking and smoking cessation and the development of smoking cessation interventions for low income rural women.

Methods:  Six databases relevant to the health and social sciences were searched using a combination of select keyword terms. Studies were included in inclusion criteria were met.

Results:  Most studies on this population of smokers are descriptive, and examine economic, environmental, and social factors related to rural smoking patterns. Of the two qualitative studies reviewed, social support received from an individual’s social network was viewed as most beneficial when considering or maintaining smoking cessation. Among the five randomized controlled trials included in the review, however social support was implemented through peripheral resources or resources with little direct connection to women's social networks and did not produce statistically significant results. Few studies have focused on the specific needs and difficulties of smoking cessation among rural women who are poor, and interventions to date have not targeted the complex social network of this population.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related nursing
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe how current literature on smoking in poor rural women impacts future research needs in this area of public health.

Keyword(s): Rural Health, Tobacco Use

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the investigator responsible for the results of this systematic literature review. My research interests include rural health, smoking in women and the social context of smoking.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.