EmpowerHer-a smoke-free future: a feasibility study examining the feasibility and acceptability of a culturally concordant tobacco treatment intervention in African American women.

BACKGROUND

Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the USA. African Americans face a higher cancer mortality rate and disease burden due to modifiable health behaviors. Effective tobacco treatment programs must transition from research to accessible community settings, particularly targeting African American women who smoke. Research supports using motivational interviewing and cognitive-behavioral therapy alongside nicotine replacement therapy for effective tobacco cessation. Culturally tailored interventions can enhance risk perception, readiness to quit, and knowledge about smoking risks.

METHODS

We piloted the EmpowerHer: A Smoke-Free Future intervention in New Jersey among African American women (N = 22), which involved motivational interviewing, combination nicotine replacement therapy, at-home carbon monoxide testing, and culturally tailored newsletters.

RESULTS

The intervention showed high acceptability and satisfaction, with participants scoring a mean of 56.08 (SD = 5.14) out of a maximum possible score of 68 on the acceptability and satisfaction questionnaire, indicating strong endorsement of the intervention's usefulness, relevance, and cultural fit. Participants demonstrated reduced nicotine dependence and carbon monoxide levels, indicating promising reductions in smoking behavior. Median cigarettes smoked per day decreased from 15 to 3, highlighting substantial progress in reducing smoking behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

This community-based, culturally tailored intervention shows promise in reducing tobacco use among at-risk African American women, filling a critical gap in tobacco treatment options. The positive outcomes suggest increased potential for successful future tobacco cessation efforts in this population.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05878990) on 18 May 2023.