Learning Objectives: Describe how to adapt smoking cessation programs for Latino populations
Abstract:
Problem/Objective: According to the 1998 US Surgeon General's Report, Tobacco Use Among U.S. Racial/Ethnic Minority Groups, smoking initiation among Latino populations is rapidly rising. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that smoking prevalence among Latino adolescents increased by thirty four percent between 1991-1997 (LCAT fact sheet, 2001). Limited resources to help Hispanic youth to quit smoking exist. Although, public health messages may be sufficiently conveyed in English to many Hispanic students, a percentage of students that prefer messages conveyed in Spanish exist.
Methods:Danya International Inc., with funding from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) has developed, Hispanic/Spanish ASCENT, a multifaceted smoking-cessation program for Latino adolescents. Based on the transtheoretical model of “Stages of Change”, Hispanic/Spanish ASCENT provides adolescents with cognitive behavioral strategies to assist them in quitting smoking. The intervention includes a six-session curriculum, teen workbook, and motivational video. The program, developed in Spanish provides culturally relevant exercises for Latino youth between the ages of 14 and 18. Two Focus groups were conducted to collect qualitative data for the purpose of tailoring the intervention to the target audience.
Results: Focus group data ensured that relevant, culturally appropriate issues to which our audience could relate would be incorporated into the products. Both the development process of this program will be presented as well as data collected from these focus groups.
Conclusions:Lessons learned from this project and recommendations for culturally adapting smoking cessation programs for Latino youth will be provided.
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