Although studies have demonstrated the need to develop culturally appropriate cessation programs that take into account the specific cultural beliefs and experiences of the Latino smoker, few strategies have been developed to help Latinos quit smoking. The present study recruits Spanish-speaking Latino smokers living in San Diego County and randomizes them into either an intervention group or a comparison group. The intervention group receives a culturally-sensitive, Spanish-language 4-month program delivered in the home by community health advisors, or promotores. Participants in the comparison group are referred to the Spanish-language California Smokers' Helpline.
Demographic data on enrolled participants (175 so far) indicate that the majority were born in Mexico, more than half are women, the average age is 43 years, and most are of a moderately low acculturation level. In terms of baseline smoking, the average age of initiation was 17 years, 85% consider themselves daily smokers with an average of 6-10 cigarettes per day, and 75% have tried to quit in the past.
Preliminary data on 28 participants with pre- and post-intervention survey data show that the intervention group had higher self-reported past-week abstinence rates (54%) than the comparison group (6%). In addition, intervention participants reported more recent quit attempts, greater reductions in the amount smoked, and greater knowledge gain on relevant questions than did comparison group participants. Pre-to-post change analysis on over 200 participants will be presented (including a biological measure of smoking), as will data related to training and implementing this novel promotor-based smoking cessation program.
Keywords: Smoking Cessation, Latinos
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.