142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

309623
Improving How We Deliver Tobacco Cessation Programs: Findings from an Intervention for People with Disabilities

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014

Jessica King, MS, CHES , Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Jamie Pomeranz, PhD, CRC, CLCP , Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Mary Ellen Young, PhD , Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Michael Moorhouse, PhD, CRC , Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Julie Merten, MSH, MCHES , Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Background:Smoking is the single most preventable cause of morbidity and mortality, accounting for 480,000 deaths in the United States annually. While the rate of adults who smoke continues to decline, people with disabilities (PWD) smoke at a rate of 1.5 times greater than that of the general population. Higher incidence of tobacco use among PWD has been directly related to a constellation of unique and universal cessation barriers.

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 prevention
Implementation 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

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

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.