A Self-Help Smoking Cessation Program for Inner-City African Americans: Results from the Harlem Health Connection Project

Abstract

The authors develop and test a culturally sensitive, low-intensity smoking cessation intervention for low-socioeconomic African Americans. African American adult smokers were randomly assigned to receive either a multicomponent smoking cessation intervention comprising a printed guide, a video, and a telephone booster call or health education materials not directly addressing tobacco use. The results of the study were mixed. Although no significant effects were observed for the entire treatment cohort, the results of post hoc analyses suggest that culturally sensitive self-help smoking cessation materials plus a single phone contact can produce short-term cessation rates similar to those reported for majority populations. This conclusion should be tempered by the low completion rate for the booster call and several design limitations of the study.

The effect of a multi‐component smoking cessation intervention in African American women residing in public housing

“…In one study with 410 motivated, urban, Southeastern US, African Americans, the 6-month continuous abstinence rate was 17.1% for those who received the nicotine patch and self-help guides (Ahluwalia, McNagny, & Clark, 1998). In another study with 1,344 lowincome African Americans who received self-help cessation guides, video, and booster calls, the 6-month continuous abstinence was 11.2% (Resnicow et al, 1997).…”

“…Sample size was determined to be adequate for comparisons of 6-month continuous smoking abstinence proportions between the intervention and comparison groups. Six-month abstinence proportion estimates were based on minimal education interventions with African Americans (Resnicow et al, 1997), PHS Guideline findings from meta-analysis for intensive group sessions and nicotine replacement (Fiore et al, 2000), and pilot study findings (Andrews et al, 2005). Assumptions included an alpha level of .05, a power of .80, continuous smoking abstinence of 5% at 6 months in the comparison group, continuous abstinence of 25% at 6 months in the intervention group, and a one-sided chi-square test.…”

Successful recruitment of minorities into clinical trials: The Kick It at Swope project

“…A review of the literature, experience from prior research projects (Ahluwalia, Richter, Mayo, & Resnicow, 1999;Resnicow et al, 1997Resnicow et al, , 1999, preliminary focus groups, and scientific and community advisory boards helped identify ways to increase the cultural sensitivity of the trial (Harris et al, 2001) and enhance recruitment. Table 1 outlines a number of these features (e.g., staff characteristics, study setting, study operations, and incentives and reimbursement) that were built into the study to enhance recruitment and implemented throughout both phases of recruitment.…”

Depressive symptoms and smoking cessation among inner-city African Americans using the nicotine patch

“…All participants also received a video and a self-help guide for quitting at randomization. Those in the culturally sensitive arm received a video (''The Harlem Health Connection's Kick-It Video''; Resnicow et al, 1997) and guide (Pathways to Freedom: Winning the Fight Against Tobacco; Robinson, Orleans, James, & Sutton, 1992) tailored for African Americans in that it conformed to visible ethnic/cultural characteristics as well as the norms, values, beliefs, and historical, environmental, and social forces relevant to African Americans (Resnicow, Baranowski, Ahluwalia, & Braithwaite, 1999). Those in the standard materials arm received an edited version of the video How to Participants also received phone calls at Weeks 1 and 3 to assess and encourage use of each of the intervention materials.…”