Cultural adaptation of a digital health intervention for smoking cessation among Hispanic/Latino adults in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.

OBJECTIVE

Hispanic/Latino ("H/L") communities experience high levels of tobacco-related morbidity and mortality. Accessible, culturally appropriate interventions are needed to address barriers to smoking cessation. This qualitative study informed the linguistic and cultural adaptation of a mindfulness-based text messaging intervention for smoking cessation among H/L adults.

METHODS

Individual interviews were conducted with H/L adults who currently smoke (n = 7), H/L adults who formerly smoked (n = 11), and other key informants (e.g., healthcare providers, medical translators, n = 8) in Atlanta, Georgia, United States in 2025-2026. Participants were asked about barriers/facilitators to tobacco cessation, intervention acceptability, suggestions for increasing accessibility and cultural relevance, and suggestions for implementation in healthcare and community settings.

RESULTS

Key barriers to smoking cessation among H/L communities include stress, low healthcare access, and inadequate focus on smoking cessation in routine healthcare. Facilitators for smoking cessation include family and social support. Participants gave positive feedback about the intervention materials, including text messages and mindfulness content. They provided suggestions for refining Spanish-language wording and optimizing implementation.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings reveal important community insights to improve access to culturally appropriate smoking cessation support for H/L adults. The intervention is being further refined to reflect cultural values and use relevant and accessible Spanish terms to increase impact.