Addressing Tobacco Use in Underserved Communities Outside of Primary Care: The Need to Tailor Tobacco Cessation Training for Community Health Workers

Authors: Marcia M. Tan, Shariwa Oke, Daryn Ellison, Clarissa Huard,Anna Veluz-Wilkins

The objectives of this study were to describe tobacco practices and the desire for related training among CHWs in communities with low socioeconomic status in Chicago, IL, U.S.A. A mixed-methods needs assessment survey was conducted to understand the knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards tobacco cessation among CHWs in Chicago. Focus groups with CHWs were also performed to expand upon the data generated from the survey. According to the results, CHWs reported that their clients had low incomes, low literacy levels, and high smoking rates. About 73.3% reported discussing tobacco use during visits, but fewer reported that they had provided cessation advice or intervened directly. In addition, CHWs also highlighted how existing training on how to conduct tobacco interventions is ineffective due to its stand-alone design. These findings emphasize the need for a curriculum tailored towards CHWs’ experiences to maximize the strengths of the CHW care model and improve CHW capacities to adaptively intervene in cases of tobacco use among highly burdened patients.