title: Woman focused smoking cessation programming: a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies of smoking cessation programs in clinical settings have revealed poorer outcomes for women compared to men, including counselling alone or in combination with pharmacotherapy. The objective of the current study was to explore treatment and program structure needs and preferences among female clients in a specialized smoking cessation clinic in an academic mental health and addiction health science centre in order to inform program design so that it meets the needs of female clients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four focus groups were conducted with current and former female clients (n = 23, mode age range = 50-59 years old, 56.5% were still smoking and 43.5% had quit) who had registered for outpatient smoking cessation treatment. Questions were designed to examine what aspects of the services were helpful and what changes they would like to see to better assist them and other women with quitting smoking. A thematic analysis of the raw data (audio recordings and notes taken during the focus groups) was conducted using a phenomenological theoretical framework.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Themes that emerged indicated that females trying to quit smoking are best supported if they have choice from a variety of services so that treatment can be individualized to meet their specific needs; psychosocial support is provided both one-one-one with health care professionals and by peers in support groups; free pharmacotherapy is available to eliminate financial barriers to use; women-specific educational topics and support groups are offered; the clinic is accessible with evening/weekend hours, options to attend a local clinic, and childcare availability; and communication about clinic services and operation are clear, readily available, and regularly updated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An ideal smoking cessation program for women includes a women's centred approach with sufficient variety and choice, free pharmacotherapy, non-judgmental support, accessible services and clear communication of program options and changes. Findings may suggest an actionable list of adaptations that can be adopted by other clinics providing smoking cessation services to women.
authors.affiliation: Addictions Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 100 Stokes Street, Toronto, ON, M6J 1H4, Canada.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Minian
authors.affiliation: Addictions Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 100 Stokes Street, Toronto, ON, M6J 1H4, Canada.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Penner
authors.affiliation: Addictions Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 100 Stokes Street, Toronto, ON, M6J 1H4, Canada.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Voci
authors.affiliation: Addictions Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 100 Stokes Street, Toronto, ON, M6J 1H4, Canada. peter.selby@camh.ca.|Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, 500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada. peter.selby@camh.ca.|Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, 8th floor, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada. peter.selby@camh.ca.|Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 3M7, Canada. peter.selby@camh.ca.|Ontario Tobacco Research Unit, 155 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 3M7, Canada. peter.selby@camh.ca.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Selby
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Smoking; Smoking cessation; Tobacco use disorder; Women