Creating a Tobacco Cessation Program for People with Disabilities: A Community Based Participatory Research Approach

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Disability Studies
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Smoking is a leading preventable cause of death, with higher rates among people with disabilities (PWD).
• Existing tobacco cessation programs may not adequately address the needs of PWD.
• There is a need for tailored interventions for smoking cessation in the disability community.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a culturally relevant and effective tobacco cessation program specifically for people with disabilities (PWD).
• To utilize Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) principles in program development.
• To adapt existing cessation strategies and create novel approaches for low-income populations with disabilities.

Main Methods:

• Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) was employed to design the program.
• Tobacco users with disabilities were recruited from Centers for Independent Living (CIL) in North Central Florida.
• Qualitative interviews, Community Advisory Board (CAB) meetings, and expert reviews informed program modifications.

Main Results:

• The developed program incorporated disability-specific issues, person-first language, and personal narratives from PWD.
• Key modifications included updating data, reducing text density, and integrating appropriate counseling strategies.
• Forty-two specific changes were recommended for the resulting LIFT Curriculum.

Conclusions:

• CBPR is a valuable methodology for creating effective tobacco cessation programs for individuals with disabilities.
• The LIFT Curriculum, developed through this process, is ready for pilot testing.
• Future research will compare the efficacy of the LIFT Curriculum against standard cessation programs.