Combining Women's Preferences and Expert Advice to Design a Tailored Smoking Cessation Program

• Published in: Substance use & misuse Vol. 44; no. 14; pp. 2114 - 2137
• Main Authors: Katzburg, Judith R., Yano, Elizabeth M., Washington, Donna L., Farmer, Melissa M., Yee, Ellen F. T., Fu, Steven, Trowell-Harris, Irene, Sherman, Scott E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa UK Ltd 23.11.2009; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Cessation; consumer focus; Development Programs; expert panel; Expert Testimony; Female; Females; Focus Groups; Health; Health Promotion - methods; Humans; Los Angeles, California; Patient Education as Topic; Patient Preference; Patients; Pilot Projects; Pilot studies; Preferences; Program Development - methods; Smoking; smoking cessation; Smoking Cessation - methods; tailored; United States; United States Department of Veterans Affairs; Veterans; Women; women veterans; Women's Health Services; United States
• ISSN: 1082-6084; 1532-2491
• DOI: 10.3109/10826080902858433

We designed a patient-centered smoking cessation program for women in 2004/2005, incorporating women's preferences and expert opinion. Our four-step process included: (1) concept-development focus groups; (2) an expert panel; (3) concept-testing focus groups, and (4) a pilot study. Data analyses occurred in 2004-2007. The new program offered options: the traditional Veterans Health Administration (VA) male-dominated program was the least selected option in the pilot study. Patients can be effectively involved in program development. The study's implications and limitations are noted. This research (conducted in Los Angeles, California) was funded by the American Legacy Foundation with additional VA support.