TY - JOUR
T1 - How can vulnerable groups be recruited to participate in a community-based smoking cessation program and perceptions of effective elements
T2 - A qualitative study among participants and professionals
AU - van Straaten, Barbara
AU - Meerkerk, Gert-Jan
AU - van den Brand, Floor A.
AU - Lucas, Pamela
AU - de Wit, Nienke
AU - Nagelhout, Gera E.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by a grant from Fonds NutsOhra (#102346).
Funding Information:
We thank Indigo Haaglanden (Ursula Dewkalie, Zeynep Sarikaya, Feroz Hansildaar, Renato van der Geld, Christel van Soelen) and Jellinek Utrecht (Marco Looije, Jaap Jamin, Tamara de Bruijn, Franca Hasenbos) for the recruitment of participants and the development and implementation of the smoking cessation program. We thank several students for their help with transcribing the interviews, in particular Allisha Biesheuvel, Arie Boven, Hiba Saleh, Lisa Dijkhoff, Vai van Ast, and Willemieke Ligtenberg. This study was supported by a grant from Fonds NutsOhra (#102346).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 van Straaten B. et al. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
PY - 2020/11
Y1 - 2020/11
N2 - INTRODUCTION Smokers from vulnerable groups, such as smokers with a low socioeconomic position, often have more difficulty quitting smoking and often are more difficult to recruit for smoking cessation programs. It is important to know how vulnerable groups can be recruited and motivated to participate in a smoking cessation program and what participants and professionals perceive as effective elements.METHODS Qualitative interviews were performed with participants of a community-based smoking cessation program in the Netherlands (n=18) and professionals involved in the recruitment of participants or as trainers in the community-based smoking cessation program (n=8). They were interviewed twice: once before the program had started and once after the program had ended. Interviews were semi-structured and conducted between September 2018 and February 2019.RESULTS We found that organizing the program in the neighborhood lowered the threshold to participate, that registration should be quick and easy, that an active approach is needed, and that personal contact is important. This study also showed that information sharing, social support, commitment of the trainer, and personal contact are perceived as effective elements of such a program.CONCLUSIONS This study shows that vulnerable smokers can be successfully recruited for a smoking cessation program. We recommend that such interventions include a group setting, extensive personal contact between participants and a committed trainer, and implementation of the program at a location in the neighborhood of the target group. Practical recommendations for professionals are to personally approach people multiple times if needed, to make sure that registration is quick and easy, and to fill in the registration form immediately during recruitment.
AB - INTRODUCTION Smokers from vulnerable groups, such as smokers with a low socioeconomic position, often have more difficulty quitting smoking and often are more difficult to recruit for smoking cessation programs. It is important to know how vulnerable groups can be recruited and motivated to participate in a smoking cessation program and what participants and professionals perceive as effective elements.METHODS Qualitative interviews were performed with participants of a community-based smoking cessation program in the Netherlands (n=18) and professionals involved in the recruitment of participants or as trainers in the community-based smoking cessation program (n=8). They were interviewed twice: once before the program had started and once after the program had ended. Interviews were semi-structured and conducted between September 2018 and February 2019.RESULTS We found that organizing the program in the neighborhood lowered the threshold to participate, that registration should be quick and easy, that an active approach is needed, and that personal contact is important. This study also showed that information sharing, social support, commitment of the trainer, and personal contact are perceived as effective elements of such a program.CONCLUSIONS This study shows that vulnerable smokers can be successfully recruited for a smoking cessation program. We recommend that such interventions include a group setting, extensive personal contact between participants and a committed trainer, and implementation of the program at a location in the neighborhood of the target group. Practical recommendations for professionals are to personally approach people multiple times if needed, to make sure that registration is quick and easy, and to fill in the registration form immediately during recruitment.
KW - qualitative research
KW - smoking cessation
KW - vulnerable groups
KW - social class
KW - community-based program
KW - SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS
KW - INTERVENTIONS
KW - SMOKERS
U2 - 10.18332/tpc/128269
DO - 10.18332/tpc/128269
M3 - Article
C2 - 33241164
SN - 2459-3087
VL - 6
SP - 1
EP - 9
JO - Tobacco prevention & cessation
JF - Tobacco prevention & cessation
M1 - 64
ER -