Lay-Led Smoking Cessation Approach for Southeast Asian Men

BACKGROUND:

Economically disadvantaged Southeast Asian men were targeted because of their higher than average smoking prevalence rate, their extraordinary increased numbers, and the relative paucity of strategies to reach this hard-to-reach group.

DESIGN NARRATIVE:

Trained, lay S.E. Asian counselors (cadre) were the primary agents for this study's assessment, intervention, and follow -up of smoking cessation behaviors. Seven reasons for using this approach were cited, including the potential generalization of this approach to other populations.

Over the six year demonstration and education research study period, the investigators: collected baseline data on smoking and smoking cessation behaviors; designed ethnically approved strategies for the cessation and maintenance of smoking cessation behaviors based upon findings from the baseline assessment; implemented ethnically approved strategies for smoking cessation; maintained smoking cessation after initial quitting; and evaluated the effectiveness of the intervention.