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Applying Anthropology to Eliminate Tobacco-Related Health Disparities

Applying Anthropology to Eliminate Tobacco-Related Health Disparities Introduction:Disparities in tobaccos harm persist. Declines in smoking among the general population have not been experienced to the same extent by vulnerable populations. Innovative strategies are required to diminish disparities in tobaccos harm. As novel tools, anthropological concepts and methods may be applied to improve the design and outcomes of tobacco cessation interventions.Methods:We reviewed over 60 articles published in peer-reviewed journals since 1995 for content on anthropology and smoking cessation. The specific questions framing the review were: (a) How can lessons learned from anthropological studies of smoking improve the design and effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions? (b) How can anthropology be applied to diminish disparities in smoking cessation? and (c) How can qualitative methods be used most effectively in smoking cessation intervention research?Results:Three specific disciplinary tools were identified and examined: (a) culture, (b) reflexivity, and (c) qualitative methods. Examining culture as a dynamic influence and understanding the utilities of smoking in a particular group is a precursor to promoting cessation. Reflexivity enables a deeper understanding of how smokers perceive quitting and smoking beyond addiction and individual health consequences. Qualitative methods may be used to elicit in-depth perspectives on quitting, insights to inform existing community-based strategies for making behavior changes, and detailed preferences for cessation treatment or programs.Conclusions:Anthropological tools can be used to improve the effectiveness of intervention research studies targeting individuals from vulnerable groups. Synthesized applications of anthropological concepts can be used to facilitate translation of findings into clinical practice for providers addressing tobacco cessation in vulnerable populations. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Nicotine and Tobacco Research Oxford University Press

Applying Anthropology to Eliminate Tobacco-Related Health Disparities

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Publisher
Oxford University Press
Copyright
The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com
ISSN
1462-2203
eISSN
1469-994X
DOI
10.1093/ntr/ntr270
pmid
22271609
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Introduction:Disparities in tobaccos harm persist. Declines in smoking among the general population have not been experienced to the same extent by vulnerable populations. Innovative strategies are required to diminish disparities in tobaccos harm. As novel tools, anthropological concepts and methods may be applied to improve the design and outcomes of tobacco cessation interventions.Methods:We reviewed over 60 articles published in peer-reviewed journals since 1995 for content on anthropology and smoking cessation. The specific questions framing the review were: (a) How can lessons learned from anthropological studies of smoking improve the design and effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions? (b) How can anthropology be applied to diminish disparities in smoking cessation? and (c) How can qualitative methods be used most effectively in smoking cessation intervention research?Results:Three specific disciplinary tools were identified and examined: (a) culture, (b) reflexivity, and (c) qualitative methods. Examining culture as a dynamic influence and understanding the utilities of smoking in a particular group is a precursor to promoting cessation. Reflexivity enables a deeper understanding of how smokers perceive quitting and smoking beyond addiction and individual health consequences. Qualitative methods may be used to elicit in-depth perspectives on quitting, insights to inform existing community-based strategies for making behavior changes, and detailed preferences for cessation treatment or programs.Conclusions:Anthropological tools can be used to improve the effectiveness of intervention research studies targeting individuals from vulnerable groups. Synthesized applications of anthropological concepts can be used to facilitate translation of findings into clinical practice for providers addressing tobacco cessation in vulnerable populations.

Journal

Nicotine and Tobacco Research – Oxford University Press

Published: Jun 23, 2012

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