One-Time Education Sessions to Help American Indian Smokeless Tobacco Users Quit

• Published in: Journal of community health 2020-06, Vol.45 (3), p.526-533
• Main Authors: Hale, Jason W., Lewis, Charley, Nazir, Niaman, Daley, Sean M., Goeckner, Ryan, Gunville, Jordyn, Faseru, Babalola, Greiner, K. Allen, Choi, Won S., Daley, Christine Makosky
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age; American Natives; Community and Environmental Psychology; Education; Educational Status; Ethics; Ethnic factors; Ethnic Groups; Female; Health Behavior; Health Education; Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Humans; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Minority & ethnic groups; Native North Americans; Original Paper; Participatory research; Self Report; Tobacco; Tobacco Use; Tobacco Use Cessation; Tobacco Use Disorder; Tobacco, Smokeless; United States
• ISSN: 0094-5145; 1573-3610
• DOI: 10.1007/s10900-019-00771-1

American Indian (AI) smokeless tobacco use rates are the highest of all racial/ethnic groups within the United States. Despite this, no effective cessation program currently exists that acknowledges the cultural significance of tobacco among many American Indian tribal nations. Participants were smokeless tobacco users, over 18 years of age, and were recruited through community partners. We modified the All Nations Snuff Out Smokeless Tobacco group-based program to be delivered as a one-time education session intervention. This was delivered to 80 participants and follow-up data was collected by self-report at 6-months. The mean age of participants was 35 and most were male (70%). A majority (69%) grew up on a AI reservation; the mean age of first smokeless tobacco use was 16 years of age. Of program completers reached for 6-month post baseline, 46% reported 0 days of SLT use; 13.5% of participants reduced; while 36% reported continued daily use. In intention to treat analysis those lost to follow-up are considered current users, the quit rate was 12.5% and among those who were still using, 4.0% reduced their use. In this study, a one-time education session intervention was effective for those who prefer an individual based approach to quitting SLT use. Follow up strategies to increase participant retention at 6-months should be explored.