Online Course: Promoting Health Equity in Tobacco Cessation: Evidence Based Behavior Change Strategies

This 30-minute online course from the Community Approaches Hub focuses on practical strategies to improve access to proven tobacco cessation methods, with a focus on populations with low socioeconomic status (SES) characteristics. This course was developed using the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change as a guiding framework, underscoring best and promising practices in engaging and supporting populations most impacted by tobacco-related disparities.

According to data from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey:

• Approximately two thirds of the 28.8 million U.S. adults who smoked wanted to quit, however, fewer than 10% succeeded.
• Many lacked access to effective cessation treatments; out of those who attempted to quit smoking in the last 2 years, fewer than 4 in 10 used proven methods like counseling or medication.

Implications for public health practice:

• Addressing gaps in treatment access is crucial for improving quit rates and reducing tobacco-related health disparities.
• Focusing on equitable population-level prevention and control strategies can support cessation on a large scale.

Access the course here.