Health Promotion Journal of Australia December 2004 Volume 15, No 3
The Koori Tobacco Cessation Project
Andy Mark, National Heart Foundation of Australia (New South Wales Division)
Iris McLeod, South Coast Aboriginal Medical Service, New South Wales
Julie Booker, Illawarra Health, New South Wales
Craig Ardler, South Coast Aboriginal Medical Service, New South Wales
Abstract
Issue addressed:
Approximately 54% of Indigenous Australians report smoking tobacco. This study aims to reduce the number of Indigenous Australians living in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions of New South Wales who report smoking tobacco.
Methods:
Quit smoking programs, including subsidised nicotine replacement therapy, information and tobacco cessation counselling were offered to Indigenous people living in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions of New South Wales, Australia.
Results:
One hundred and fifteen people participated in the quit smoking programs. Eighty-five per cent of participants had made between 0-2 previous quit attempts, with the majority of previous quit attempts being 'cold turkey'. At three months, 6% of participants reported being abstinent from tobacco.
Conclusion:
Low quit rates in the present study may be attributed to few previous quit attempts and high rates of smoking in the Indigenous community. Quit smoking programs for Indigenous Australians may contribute to a decline in the high rates of smoking tobacco.
Key words:
Indigenous, Australian, tobacco, cessation, nicotine replacement therapy.
Health Promotion Journal of Australia 2004;15:200-4
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