**** LungNSPEI Release
LungNSPEI Announces Virtual Presentation of ‘Community Advised Smoking Cessation’ Project Findings
In collaboration with community partners, LungNSPEI is pleased to announce the virtual presentation of findings from the ‘Community Advised Smoking Cessation’ Project on Thursday, December 7, 2023. The presentation will take place online from 1:00 to 1:30 PM AST.
The project, funded through the Healthy Canadians and Communities Fund: Design Phase by the Public Health Agency of Canada2, aimed to understand the unique smoking cessation challenges faced by three priority populations1 in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island: individuals with an annual household income under $40,000, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and First Nations people. These communities have higher smoking rates and reduced access to tobacco cessation services, while also facing health inequalities.
Current tobacco cessation programs may not take into account the unique challenges faced by underserved communities. The one-size-fits-all approach to tobacco cessation may not effectively address the diverse socio-economic and cultural factors influencing tobacco addiction within these populations.
In order to understand these populations’ needs in regard to tobacco cessation, LungNSPEI worked with partner organizations to engage individuals in small group discussions and sharing circles, in addition to collecting feedback from over 400 participants through an online survey. The project utilized a community-advised methodology to ensure the voices of these priority populations were at the forefront of the research.
“Our findings showed that cessation programming can be enhanced by reducing barriers to accessing NRT and counseling, increasing awareness of available programming, and building partnerships with community agencies,” said Julia Hartley, PEI Director of Operations.
During the virtual presentation on December 7, LungNSPEI will unveil the insights gained from these communities, shedding light on their needs and preferences regarding tobacco cessation programs. Our goal is to continue to work with community partners to build smoking cessation programming that meets the needs of each specific community and helps reduce the smoking rates in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday, December 7, 2023
Time: 1:00-1:30 PM AST
Platform: Zoom
Virtual Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87944285022
Project Website:
[1] Priority populations: Individuals aged 16 and older from First Nations, low-income, and the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities within NS and PEI.
[2] Healthy Canadians and Communities Fund: Design Phase – A program by the Public Health Agency of Canada to support community-driven initiatives for health promotion.
