title: A Qualitative Study of the Barriers to and Facilitators of Smoking Cessation Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Smokers Who Are Interested in Quitting.
abstract: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals are significantly more likely to smoke compared with their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. The purpose of this study was to explore barriers to and facilitators of smoking cessation readiness among LGBT smokers.
  
  
  
  This descriptive study used a qualitative approach. Four 90-minute focus groups (eligibility criteria: age ≥21, self-identify as LGBT, current smoker, interest in quitting smoking) were conducted. Participants also completed a brief survey that measured additional demographic characteristics and smoking behaviors. Topics explored included quit experiences, attitudes and beliefs, barriers to and facilitators of cessation, and cultural factors related to smoking behaviors. Established qualitative methods were used to conduct the focus groups and data analysis.
  
  
  
  The mean age of participants (N = 31) was 37.1 years with the majority identifying as male (58.1%). The sample group was racially diverse: 32% were African American, 39% were White, and 29% were more than one race. Interest in quitting was high (M = 9.0, range 0-10). Barriers to smoking cessation fell under the broad themes of individual-level factors, cultural factors, psychosocial factors, and access to treatment. Facilitators of smoking cessation included stage of readiness, health concerns, social stigma, a shift in social norms, financial costs, and improving dating prospects.
  
  
  
  Interest in smoking cessation was high in this sample of LGBT smokers and influenced by a range of facilitators. Nevertheless, several general and culturally specific barriers to smoking cessation readiness were identified. The study results have implications for future research and the development of outreach, prevention, and treatment programs.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Health Systems Science, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago , Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Alicia K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Oncology, University of Illinois Hospital and Health Systems Sciences , Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cesario
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Health Systems Science, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago , Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Research, Howard Brown Health Center , Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago , Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D036301:Qualitative Research; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities / Q000523:psychology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D014189:Transsexualism / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: and transgender (LGBT); barriers and facilitators to smoking cessation; bisexual; cultural factors; gay; lesbian; smoking