Feasibility of a community based smoking cessation program in patients with cervical dysplasia

Introduction Smoking cessation is important to reduce the risk of human papillomavirus persistence and tobacco cessation represents a modifiable behavioral factor. Individuals from lower socioeconomic groups are at a greater risk for tobacco use and may be less successful at smoking cessation. This study seeks to evaluate the feasibility of developing a community clinic-based tobacco cessation program for women with cervical dysplasia.

Methods Community based participatory research using individual structured interviews and focus groups with clinic patients and staff were utilized to determine a culturally appropriate smoking cessation program most appealing to low-income female smokers.

Results Structured interviews were conducted with four community nurses and nineteen patients who were current or former smokers from January to August 2012. Analysis of the interview transcripts revealed that nurses felt ill equipped to provide smoking cessation counseling and had few available resources to provide patients. While a majority of patients voiced a desire to stop smoking, some of the key themes that were identified in the patient interviews included limited resources to deal with psychosocial stressors and the importance of a readiness to quit.

Conclusions Smoking cessation programs for low-income women with cervical dysplasia should address the social influences of smoking, stress reduction techniques and influence patients at a time when they are ready to quit. These findings suggest that smoking cessation programs are feasible and may be optimized by enhancing training and resources for staff at community-based clinics rather than developing an intervention solely for individual patients.