title: Tobacco cessation treatment for Alaska native adolescents: group randomized pilot trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tobacco cessation treatments have not been evaluated among Alaska Native (AN) adolescents. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and the potential efficacy of a targeted cessation intervention for AN youth using a group randomized design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight villages in western Alaska were randomly assigned to receive the intervention (n = 4 villages) or a delayed treatment control condition (written materials only; n = 4 villages). Ten adolescents aged 12-17 years were targeted from each village with a planned enrollment of 80. The intervention was held over a weekend, and youth traveled from their villages to quit tobacco use with other teens. The intervention comprised 8 hr of group-based counseling. Talking circles, personal stories from elders, and recreational activities were included to enhance cultural acceptability and participation. Newsletters were mailed weekly for 5-weeks postprogram. Assessments were conducted at baseline, week 6 (end-of-treatment), and 6 months. Self-reported tobacco abstinence was confirmed with salivary cotinine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recruitment targets were met in the intervention (41 enrolled) but not in control villages (27 enrolled). All intervention participants attended the weekend program. Retention was high; 98% of intervention and 86% of control participants completed 6-month follow-up. The 7-day point-prevalence self-reported tobacco abstinence rates for intervention and control participants were 10% (4/41) and 0% (0/27) at both week 6 and 6 months (p = .15). Only 1 adolescent in the intervention condition was biochemically confirmed abstinent at week 6 and none at 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intensive individual-focused intervention used in this study was feasible but not effective for tobacco cessation among AN youth. Alternative approaches are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychology and Behavioral Health Research Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN;
authors.forename: Christi A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Patten
authors.forename: Oluwole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fadahunsi
authors.forename: Marcelo M K
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hanza
authors.forename: Christina A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Decker
authors.forename: Rahnia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boyer
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ellsworth
authors.forename: Tabetha A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Brockman
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Carrie A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bronars
authors.forename: Kenneth P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Offord
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000413:Alaska; D002648:Child; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012944:Social Support; D020340:Tobacco Use Cessation / Q000379:methods*