Examining the Effectiveness of a Culturally Tailored Cessation Program for LGBT Smokers


Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

3374.0: Monday, December 12, 2005 - 5:30 PM

Abstract #109566

G. Simone Koehlinger, PsyD¹, Chris Powers, BA², Scott C. Cook, PhD², and David J. McKirnan, PhD³. (1) Office of LGBT Health, Chicago Department of Public Health, 333 South State, Room 200, Chicago, IL 60604, 312.747.9632, koehlinger_simone@cdph.org, (2) Department of Research, Howard Brown Health Center, 4025 North Sheridan, Chicago, IL 60613, (3) Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1007 West Harrison Street, Mail Code 285, Chicago, IL 60607-7137

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people are more likely to be smokers than the general population. Despite this acknowledged health disparity, the cessation research has rarely considered customized programs for these populations. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of smoking cessation groups specifically tailored for the LGBT community.

Q-TECC (Queer Tobacco Elimination and Control Collaboration) is comprised of three Chicagoland agencies, each serving a specific subgroup of the LGBT community. Specific populations targeted include African American men who have sex with men (MSM), Latino MSM, White/Other MSM, women who have sex with women, and Transgender people. We conducted fifteen smoking cessation groups (three of which were in Spanish)and enrolled 95 participants. Q-TECC investigators and staff used a culturally sensitive curriculum, a combination of the American Lung Association's Freedom from Smoking cessation protocol with QueerTIPS for LGBT Smokers: A Stop Smoking Class for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Communities.

Pre-, post-, and three-month follow-up measures were conducted with cessation group participants. Additionally, focus groups were held to obtain feedback about participants' group experience.

We will describe the curriculum used and provide demographic information about the make-up of the groups. We will report participant quit rates and compare these across segments (race/ethnicity, gender, SES) and with the general population. We will review participants' evaluation of the program. We will discuss the effectiveness of the groups as indicated by both quit rates and participants' subjective feedback.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the audience will be able to

• Describe the effectiveness of a smoking cessation group intervention tailored specifically for the LGBT community.
• Identify the important aspects of an effective cessation program for the LGBT community
• Articulate how factors such as race/ethnicity and socio economic status are associated with the effectiveness of the intervention.
• Articulate what LGBTs find important about a quitting smoking program

Keywords: Smoking Cessation, Gay

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

ATOD Within LGBT Populations

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA