Abstract B12: Tobacco use and interest in smoking cessation among Latinos attending community health fairs

Introduction: Tobacco use is the most preventable cause of cancer morbidity and mortality for the U.S. Latino population.(ACS, 2008) Tobacco dependence treatment for the general population has been rigorously evaluated by the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Clinical Practice Guideline for Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence. The Guideline calls for treatment of all smokers, and recognizes the need for attention to smokers from racial and ethnic minority populations. Initial progress has been made over the past 15 years in addressing Latino tobacco use. Perez-Stable and colleagues developed a culturally tailored Spanish-language smoking cessation guide which has been evaluated and effectively used within community interventions targeting low acculturated Latino smokers. One study in particular showed that computerized decision aids are feasible and can facilitate the use of effective treatments for smoking cessation among underserved smokers in the context of health fairs. Few randomized trials have evaluated pharmacotherapy for Latino smokers, although one study demonstrated a doubling in quit rates for smokers who used nicotine replacement compared to placebo. 6 While evidence supports tobacco treatment intervention, Latinos are less likely than white non-Hispanics to participate in smoking cessation programs or to receive advice about stopping smoking from their healthcare providers. Furthermore, the rise of the uninsured and the growing number of Latino immigrants without access to primary care limit the reach of the Clinical Guidelines, which focus on interventions through primary care. Given tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of disease and death for U.S. Latinos, culturally-sensitive interventions and innovative strategies are urgently needed to reach Latino smokers. Community-based participatory approaches have been successfully implemented in Latino communities to promote cancer awareness, training, education and screening, evaluating and treating tobacco use and promoting other health behaviors. Among community-based programs, health fairs have become a vital source for reaching medically underserved Latinos, providing access to health education, basic needed services, screening, and resource referral. Objective: To describe tobacco use and interest in smoking cessation among Latino smokers attending community health fairs. Methods: We surveyed 262 self-identified Latinos attending health fairs; we assessed smoking behavior and attitudes of 53 (20.2%) current smokers. Results: Participants were mostly uninsured (98.1 %), male (54.7%), recent immigrants (96.2%) with limited English proficiency (60.4% spoke Spanish at home), and were mainly light (86.3%) and nondaily (58.7%) smokers. Although most participants attempted to quit smoking at least once in the past year, only 5.0% of current smokers reported ever using cessation medication and 94.3% were unaware of free-telephone counseling. The majority o smokers were ready to quit within 30 days and were interested in cessation programs. Conclusion: Limited use of resources and high interest in treatment emphasizes the potential for health fairs to link smokers with cessation treatments. Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2010;19(10 Suppl):B12.