Feasibility study of culturally tailored smoking cessation for Chinese smokers in New York City

Background/Significance: Tobacco use is a serious public health problem among low income Chinese Americans with limited English proficiency. Chinese men are at high risk for smoking-related morbidity and mortality. Objectives/Purpose: The purpose was to test the feasibility of a culturally and linguistically sensitive combined counseling and pharmacological smoking intervention program for Chinese smokers in NYC; identify factors and techniques that enhance administration and appropriateness of the combined intervention program; and examined the overall impact of the program on quit attempts, quit rates and overall smoking reduction in the target group. Methods: This study was guided by Transtheoretical Model and used an adapted Motivational Interviewing (MI) approach. This study involved a randomized sample, with pre-treatment assessment and multiple follow-up measures for eligible participants (n=122). Eligible participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention or the control groups. The intervention group received four individualized counselor-led MI sessions and Nicotine patches. The control group received four sessions of general health education, self-help materials and Nicotine patches. Results: The quit rate at 6-month in the intervention group was 67% versus 32% for the control group for the same time interval, indicating minimal relapse and a highly successful combined intervention program. Risk perception, self-efficacy, and pros of quitting were all significant predictors of smoking status, reflecting positive change over time. Continuing smokers reported in reduction in the average number of cigarettes smoked per week during the same period. Discussion: This study indicated that a combined intensive behavioral counseling and pharmacological intervention can reduce smoking substantially.