Listen to the consumer: designing a tailored smoking-cessation program for women.
We used a consumer-driven approach to develop a model smoking-cessation program for women. Four focus groups (N = 23 [5-7/group]), each lasting 2 hours, were led by a professional moderator and audiotaped in 2004. Researchers reviewed transcripts; key themes were identified using scrutiny techniques (Ryan and Bernard, 2003). Necessary elements of a smoking-cessation program for women included support and choice (i.e., control over the program components), suggesting the need for an individualized program. Identifying appropriate components is a critical step in the development of efficacious programs that target substance-abusing populations; focus group methodology is useful in this endeavor. The study's implications and limitations are noted.
Katzburg
Judith R
JR
UCLA/Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Institute, UCLA Anderson School of Management, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA. Judith.Katzburg@anderson.ucla.edu
Farmer
Melissa M
MM
Poza
Ines V
IV
Sherman
Scott E
SE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods; D003256:Community Participation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups / Q000379:methods*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012944:Social Support; D013637:Tape Recording; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs / Q000458:organization & administration; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology; D016387:Women's Health