Intersectionality in Intervention Development: Insights From Formative Work on a Tailored Tobacco Cessation Program...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Digital Health Interventions
• Health Equity

Background:

• Tailored tobacco cessation programs for minoritized communities are increasing.
• Understanding the needs of individuals with multiple marginalized identities in these interventions remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate feedback on the Empowered, Queer, Quitting, and Living (EQQUAL) intervention using an intersectional lens.
• To identify intersectional design gaps in a digital smoking cessation program for LGBTQIA+ young adults.

Main Methods:

• User-centered design process for the EQQUAL intervention.
• Rapid deductive content analysis of user testing, diary studies, and satisfaction responses.
• Focus on intersectional design gaps and feedback on representativeness and inclusivity.

Main Results:

• Identified three themes of intersectional design gaps: avatar representativeness, program representativeness, and non-inclusive content.
• Feedback highlighted issues related to socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, religion/culture, and ability/disability.
• Despite prior positive findings on acceptability and efficacy, significant intersectional design gaps were noted during development.

Conclusions:

• Intersectional design is crucial for developing health equity-focused interventions.
• Standardized procedures for intersectional design and analysis can improve interventions.
• Addressing multiple forms of marginalization is key to meeting tobacco cessation needs.