Beta Test of a Christian Faith-Based Facebook Intervention for Smoking Cessation in Rural Communities (FaithCore):...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Digital Health Interventions
• Health Equity

Background:

• Rural communities face significant barriers to accessing tobacco cessation treatments.
• Social media and digital platforms can improve access and engagement for cessation efforts.
• Faith-based involvement is linked to lower smoking rates, offering a way to engage rural populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and beta test a social intervention prototype using a Facebook group for rural smokers.
• To provide evidence-based smoking cessation resources through a tailored digital platform.

Main Methods:

• Designed a culturally and faith-aligned Facebook group intervention called FaithCore.
• Employed community-based participatory research principles for content and engagement.
• Conducted a beta test to assess technical and usability aspects of the intervention.

Main Results:

• No critical technical or usability issues were identified during the beta test.
• The FaithCore intervention was perceived as helpful, easy to understand, and effective.
• 90% of participants attempted to quit smoking, and 90% utilized cessation resources from the group.

Conclusions:

• Social media interventions with culturally and faith-aligned content show potential for smoking cessation in rural areas.
• Trained moderators and tailored strategies enhance the effectiveness of digital cessation programs.
• Future research will focus on a large pilot trial to evaluate the intervention's impact on smoking cessation outcomes.