Supporting Aboriginal women to be smoke-free through group-based cessation

Dr Michelle Kennedy, The University of Newcastle

2021 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Award

Years funded: 2022-2024

Tobacco remains the largest single contributing risk behaviour for adverse health conditions of Aboriginal people (at 17%), with smoking causing half of deaths in older Aboriginal people. While smoking rates remain high among Aboriginal people, they are making ongoing quit attempts and more likely to make a quit attempt than non-Aboriginal people. A lack of sustained quitting indicates that support strategies offered may not be meaningful and/or appropriate. Aboriginal pregnant women experience multiple challenges to sustain quitting during pregnancy but are motivated to quit smoking. Aboriginal women have expressed the desire to have smoking cessation groups in Aboriginal Health Services to support cessation. This study will:

1. Pilot the feasibility and acceptability of smoking cessation support groups for women in 5 services and
2. Examine the impact of group support on smoking cessation.

This study will provide evidence for effective community-led and embedded smoking cessation care that is scalable, flexible and low-cost.