Empowering Smoking Cessation for People With High Levels of Stress and Low Social Support in Oklahoma and the ACS South Region
University of Oklahoma
Summary
Sexual and/or gender minority (SGM) people face a disproportionate burden of cancer risk, and tobacco use is a key modifiable risk factor. SGM tobacco-related disparities are especially pronounced in places with high levels of stigma against SGM people. This community-engaged and remotely-delivered Research Scholar Grant project will evaluate an empowerment-based smoking cessation intervention tailored for SGM people in high-stigma places. In partnership with Freedom Oklahoma (OK) and a Community Advisory Board from Arkansas (AR) and Texas (TX) this projects aims to: (1) Adapt SGM-serving volunteer activities from the Oklahoma intervention pilot study for delivery in nearby states; (2) Test intervention efficacy among SGM adults in OK, AR, and TX; (3) Identify treatment mechanisms.
Description
We will enroll 398 participants for the proposed RCT of the intervention. Randomization will occur prior to the onboarding meeting using screening survey responses. We will stratify by gender (cisgender man, cisgender woman, gender minority), sexual orientation (gay/lesbian, bisexual/pansexual/queer, all other sexual orientations), age (18-34 vs. ≥ 35 years old), and state of residence. In a 2-arm, 12-week randomized controlled trial (RCT) with follow-up at 26 weeks, N=398 SGM adults willing to quit smoking cigarettes will be randomized to a control arm (n=199) (i.e., remote cessation support…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–100 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Exclusion criteria: * Currently using other smoking cessation treatments. * Unable or unwilling to use Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) * Serious psychological distress (i.e., score of 13 ≥ 18 on the Kessler Psychological Distress (PD) Scale-6 19) Inclusion criteria will be: 1. ≥ 18 years old 2. sexual and/or gender minority-identified (SGM) (see definition below) 3. living in Oklahoma, Texas, or Arkansas (verified by address) 4. a current cigarette smoker (see definition) 5. willing to quit smoking within 30 days of enrollment (see definition) 6. ability to read and speak English 'well'…
Interventions
- OtherEmpowering Cessation for the ACS South
All participants (N=400) will receive remotely-delivered smoking cessation support comprised of the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) free smoking cessation app and 12 weeks of mailed over-the-counter NRT (nicotine patches, gum or lozenges).. While receiving smoking cessation support, participants in the intervention group (n=200) will also engage in SGM-serving online volunteer activities (≥4 weekly sessions lasting \~1.5 hours each), the protocols for which will be developed in Phase 1 to address the needs of OK, AR, and TX communities. Volunteer sessions will be facilitated by an SGM culturally-competent facilitator employed by the research team (i.e., community partner organizations will not run volunteer sessions). The intervention group will also be added to a digital hub (i.e., a private Reddit group) for 12 weeks to foster social support and exchange of ideas between participants/community partners across the three states.
Location
- University of Oklahoma Health CampusOklahoma City, Oklahoma