Tobacco cessation and prevention for underserved Arab Americans: A pilot study

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For this High Impact Pilot Award we are developing and assessing the feasibility of a community-engaged commercial tobacco cessation and prevention program for Arab Americans. Arab American community surveys have shown current smoking rates ranging from 39% to 60% (compared to 16% for US adults). Even if they don’t use commercial nicotine or tobacco products, Arab American people living with smokers are at risk for secondhand smoke or vapor exposure. There are very few tobacco treatment and prevention programs specific to Arab Americans. In the California East Bay Area, with a large population of Arab Americans, there is as yet no dedicated Arab American health clinic and few Arabic-speaking healthcare providers. Directed by a Community Advisory Board of Arab American community leaders and health advocates, we are (1) conducting a brief survey of 120 Bay Area Arab American tobacco or nicotine users, followed by 4 in-depth focus group interviews, to understand  barriers and supports for quitting and prevention and (2) talking with providers in community clinics where Arab American may obtain healthcare and health information, in order to (3) develop, field, and test a brief tobacco treatment program which respects and builds on local Arab American community resources and interests and (4) a community-based prevention program to raise awareness and encourage community members to restrict home smoking, which may support quit attempts as well as reduce exposure to secondhand smoke. Results of this pilot study will inform the design of a multi-site study to reduce and prevent commercial nicotine- and tobacco-related harms in underserved Arab American communities in California.