309623
Improving How We Deliver Tobacco Cessation Programs: Findings from an Intervention for People with Disabilities
Methods:The research team used a CBPR, mixed methods approach to develop a tobacco cessation intervention for PWD. During the program evaluation portion of the study, the research team administered surveys and conducted semi-structured interviews with 29 participants to identify what challenges the participants encountered when attempting to remain tobacco free and what program characteristics supported PWD in becoming tobacco free.
Results:Participants were primarily African American (55%), male (62%), with a variety of disabilities (cognitive, mobility, multiple disabilities). The most frequently identified triggers for continued tobacco use were stress (72%), being around other users (52%), and alcohol use (52%). Participants identified health (89%) and finances (7%) as the primary reasons for quitting. Findings also suggested PWD prefer interventions to be flexible, accessible, promote an accepting atmosphere, and use relatable materials and facilitators.
Conclusions: Tobacco users with disabilities remain a priority population for tobacco cessation interventions. Findings suggest our sample of PWD have unique characteristics that are beneficial to address during a cessation intervention. Better understanding these unique characteristics will help researchers develop successful tobacco cessation interventions.
Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and preventionImplementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Describe characteristics of people with disabilities participating in a tobacco cessation program.
Explain why a tailored tobacco cessation program may be more beneficial for people with disabilities.
Keyword(s): Tobacco Use, Accessibility
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the coordinator for this study for the previous year. Additionally, I have worked in the field of tobacco prevention/policy/cessation for the previous 3 years.
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.