title: Assessing the feasibility, acceptability and potential effectiveness of an integrated approach to smoking cessation for new and expectant fathers: The Dads in Gear study protocol.
abstract: Evidence related to the effects of tobacco exposure in pregnancy and on infant and child health have focused on women's smoking cessation. Less often addressed is men's smoking, which when continued in fatherhood, reduces the chances of female partners' cessation and can negatively impact children's health as well as men's health. Dads in Gear (DIG) is an innovative program designed specifically for new fathers who want to reduce and quit smoking that includes three components: smoking cessation, fathering, and physical activity. The over-arching purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of the DIG program and provide estimates of program efficacy. The purpose of this article is to describe the rationale and protocol for evaluating the DIG program's feasibility, acceptability and potential effectiveness.
  
  
  
  Using a prospective, non-comparative design, the DIG program will be implemented and evaluated in six communities. The program will be offered by trained facilitators to fathers who currently smoke and want to quit. The RE-AIM framework will guide the evaluation. Open-ended questions in participant surveys, and semi-structured interviews and weekly telephone de-briefs with facilitators will provide data for a process evaluation. Estimates of effectiveness include smoking behavior, fathering and physical activity measures at baseline, end of program, and 3-month follow up.
  
  
  
  The DIG program could support positive changes with respect to smoking cessation, physical activity and overall health for men. These effects could also promote family health. The program might also provide an effective model for engaging men in other health behavior change.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, University of British Columbia, 1147 Research Road, Art 223, Kelowna, British Columbia VIV 1V7, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: joan.bottorff@ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Joan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bottorff
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, T201-2211 Westbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 2B5, Canada. Electronic address: john.oliffe@nursing.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Oliffe
authors.affiliation: Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, University of British Columbia, 1147 Research Road, Art 223, Kelowna, British Columbia VIV 1V7, Canada. Electronic address: gayl.sarbit@ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Gayl
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sarbit
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia, 1147 Research Road, Art 360, Kelowna, British Columbia VIV 1V7, Canada. Electronic address: cristine.caperchione@ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caperchione
authors.affiliation: Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, University of British Columbia, 1147 Research Road, Art 223, Kelowna, British Columbia VIV 1V7, Canada. Electronic address: Marianne.clark@ubc.ca.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: The Bridge Youth and Family Services, #8-2604 Enterprise Way, Kelowna, British Columbia V1X 7Y5, Canada. Electronic address: Anima.Anand@thebridgeservices.ca.
authors.forename: Anima
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anand
authors.affiliation: Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention, University of British Columbia, 1147 Research Road, Art 223, Kelowna, British Columbia VIV 1V7, Canada. Electronic address: Khoway@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Kym
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Howay
mesh_terms: D001955:British Columbia; D015444:Exercise; D005192:Family Health; D005220:Fathers; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010379:Peer Group; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020377:Self Efficacy; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D012944:Social Support; D000073869:Tobacco Smoking / Q000628:therapy*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Family health; Fathers; Gender role; Health behavior; Masculinity; Smoking cessation