title: Encouraging smoking cessation among disadvantaged groups: a qualitative study of the financial aspects of cessation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to explore perceptions about financial aspects of smoking cessation among a group of disadvantaged welfare agency clients and their carers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative focus groups and in-depth interviews were supplemented with participant exit surveys about preferred smoking cessation strategies. Each discussion was audiotaped, transcribed and analysed using a thematic analysis. The setting was six non-government community welfare service organisations operating in New South Wales, Australia. Eleven social services offered by these organisations participated. Thirty two clients participated in six client focus groups, 35 staff participated in six staff focus groups and eight manager telephone interviews were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clients indicated that the cost of nicotine replacement therapy was a barrier to its use and that financial incentives were acceptable. Of the 16 possible strategies listed in the exit survey, the three selected as the most preferred by clients incorporated financial or non-financial assistance. By contrast, staff and managers selected financial and non-financial incentives as the least preferred and least feasible strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study found high acceptance of incentives as a smoking cessation strategy among a disadvantaged group of non-government welfare service clients. The comparatively low level of desirability and feasibility from the perspective of service staff and managers suggests implementation of such an approach within the community service setting requires careful further testing.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Research & Psycho-oncology, The Cancer Council NSW & University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia. billie.bonevski@newcastle.edu.au
authors.forename: Billie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bonevski
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paul
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009517:New South Wales; D009938:Organizations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012907:Smoking / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D012946:Social Welfare / Q000523:psychology