Abstract B042: Gender-affirming cessation support for LGBTQ+ tobacco users: Establishing TheQuitAlliance
Authors: Crisanto Victor , Caro Alexandra , Balingit Reener , Surani Zul 
Published: September 2024

Background. The LGBTQ+ community faces various stressors, including stigma, discrimination, and harassment, which are linked to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Additionally, they are targeted by tobacco companies through marketing, which increases tobacco use and other health problems. LGB adults use commercial tobacco products at a higher rate than the general population (25.1% versus 18.8%), and tobacco use is even higher among transgender adults according to the CDC. Without peer support, counseling, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), and community resources to address barriers to quitting, tobacco users are less likely to succeed in quitting. Research has shown that gender-affirming tobacco cessation interventions can be highly effective in helping LGBTQ+ individuals quit tobacco; however, little is known about its effectiveness in Latinx communities and other groups with intersectional identities. Methods. To improve access to culturally tailored and gender-affirming cessation resources that acknowledge the unique experiences and stressors faced by our community, Cedars-Sinai Cancer COE developed TheQuitAlliance, a LGBTQ+ focused tobacco cessation program. This multi-level approach involved web-based resources, information and presentation to the community. A series of gender affirming support groups facilitated by trained Spanish speaking tobacco cessation specialists who are members of the LGBTQ+ community was offered to tobacco users. The first steps involved improving their knowledge on how tobacco affects specific populations, such as transgender, non-binary, gender non-conforming individuals, people living with HIV, youth, and the types of nicotine replacement therapies available. RESULTS: In 2023, our partners The Wall Las Memorias and Latino Equality Alliance implemented a screening tool using the Ask, Advise, and Refer model, expanded outreach efforts, and successfully identified N=242 LGBTQ+ tobacco users who were referred to our virtual gender affirming support group. Among current smokers who participated in a series of three support groups, 85% (17 of 20) indicated positive attitudes towards the importance of changing their smoking behaviors, readiness to change, and having control over their ability to make positive change right now, while 90% are committed to taking steps towards change right now (18 of 20). In 2024, The Wall Las Memorias reached 500 LGBTQ+ community members and linked 70 tobacco users to cessation support groups. Conclusion. Our survey indicated that participating in a gender affirming cessation intervention can increase self-efficacy to take steps towards quitting tobacco. Through safe spaces created by The Quit Alliance, we found that LGBTQ+ tobacco users are also able to make connections with others to be supported in their journey to becoming tobacco free.

Citation Format: Victor Crisanto, Alexandra Caro, Reener Balingit, Zul Surani. Gender-affirming cessation support for LGBTQ+ tobacco users: Establishing TheQuitAlliance [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B042.