title: Focus groups of Y-K Delta Alaska Natives: attitudes toward tobacco use and tobacco dependence interventions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tobacco dependence interventions developed for Alaska Natives are virtually nonexistent. Alaska Natives residing on the Yukon-Kuskokwim (Y--K) Delta in southwestern Alaska use a unique form of smokeless tobacco (ST) known as Iqmik. This study employed focus group methodology to explore attitudes toward tobacco use and tobacco dependence interventions among Alaska Natives residing on the Y-K Delta.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve focus groups of former and current tobacco users were conducted in four villages in the Y-K Delta. Participants were 35 adults (83% female) and 22 adolescents (27% female). Participants completed a brief demographic and tobacco use history form. Statements from the focus groups were transcribed for content coding and analysis of the major themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Use of Iqmik in the villages is thought to be ubiquitous. Y-K Delta Alaska Natives are introduced to Iqmik at a very young age. Iqmik is mostly used and prepared by young Alaska Natives and adult women. There are few perceived adverse health effects of Iqmik or other tobacco use. Although there is interest in stopping, there is a perceived lack of availability of tobacco dependence interventions. The major barriers to preventing the initiation of and stopping tobacco use are the social acceptance and widespread use and availability of tobacco.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The attitudes toward tobacco and identified barriers to stopping will be useful in developing tobacco dependence interventions for Alaska Natives.
authors.affiliation: Yukon--Kuskokwim Health Corporation, Bethel, AK, USA.
authors.forename: Caroline C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Renner
authors.forename: Christi A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Patten
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Enoch
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Petraitis
authors.forename: Kenneth P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Offord
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Angstman
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garrison
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nevak
authors.forename: Ivana T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Croghan
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Hurt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000413:Alaska; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D044382:Population Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D020340:Tobacco Use Cessation / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy