Abstract
BackgroundAmong food pantry users there is a high prevalence of both smoking and food insecurity, which may be related to one another. This study aims to evaluate the impact of a smoking cessation program carried out in food pantries on the smoking status and the food security status of food pantry users.Methods / designBefore starting the cluster randomised controlled trial, stakeholders will be engaged to adapt a behavioural group counselling program for smoking cessation to the needs of the food pantry users in a pre study. Food pantry users and workers as well as other experts, such as smoking cessation trainers, social workers, and psychologists, will be involved, using the world café technique and telephone interviews and a qualitative thematic analysis for data analysis to design the concept of the intervention program will be applied. In the second phase, the impact of the intervention on the smoking status and on food insecurity will be investigated by a cluster randomised controlled trial. A total of 416 food pantry users across 32 clusters (food pantries) in Berlin, Germany, should be recruited and randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the waiting list control group. The intervention will consist of a behavioural group counselling program for smoking cessation, specially tailored for food pantry users, as well as optional nicotine replacement therapy and the implementation of environmental smoking reduction measures in the food pantries. The primary outcomes 6 months after the treatment will be self-reported continuous smoking abstinence, validated by exhaled carbon monoxide (< 10 ppm of carbon monoxide), and increased food security level (the percentage of participants with an improved food security level).DiscussionThis study will be the first long-term investigation into the effect of a smoking cessation program on smoking status and food insecurity. The results of this study will inform the implementation of smoking cessation programs in food pantries throughout Germany.Trial registrationProspectively registered DRKS00020037. Registered 29 April 2020
Highlights
Among food pantry users there is a high prevalence of both smoking and food insecurity, which may be related to one another
Important secondary objectives include to assess the impact of the smoking cessation measures on other measures of smoking status and of food insecurity as well as on the health-related quality of life scores and bodymass-index;
This study will increase understanding into the impact of a smoking cessation program targeted to food pantry users on smoking status and food insecurity
Summary
Among food pantry users there is a high prevalence of both smoking and food insecurity, which may be related to one another. Smoking is one of the major risk factors of mortality and morbidity in Germany [1] and accounts for around 125, 000 premature deaths per year [2]. From 1998 to 2014, the prevalence of smoking decreased in most income groups, whereas it increased to nearly 34% among the population group in the lowest income quartile [6]. Socioeconomic differences in smoking behaviours have become one of the major contributors to existing socioeconomic disparities in quality of life, morbidity and mortality [7, 8]
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