Review and Synthesis of Smoking Cessation Interventions in the Canadian Aboriginal Population

Abstract

Smoking is a major public health concern among the Aboriginal Canadian Population. The age-adjusted smoking-attributable death rates are two times those of other Canadians; 20% of adult deaths among Aboriginal Canadians is attributable to smoking. There is no research that implemented and examined interventions of smoking cessation in Aboriginal Canadians, particularly in Northern British Columbia. This paper represents a critical review of some of the successful smoking cessation programs conducted in different jurisdictions. It is evident that little consideration is given to Aboriginal knowledge transfer in program development and delivery. This review indicates that in order for an Aboriginal cessation strategy to be successful, culturally relevant criteria must be identified and implemented. Without consideration of culture, there will always be limited success in tobacco cessation initiatives. To be effective, smoking cessation programs need to be comprehensive. Social determinants of health and socio-economic disparities that influence health status outcomes need to be considered as they have major influence in adopting smoking among Canadian Aboriginals. These factors have implications for public health policy. BCCA in other regional centres (1). The NCCS includes program enhancements for the complete continuum of cancer care. There are six core projects that include prevention and promotion, screening, detection and diagnosis, treatment, psychosocial care and palliative/end of life care. Additionally, there are seven enabling platforms that include enhanced information technology, telemedicine, navigation, primary care, human resources, monitoring, research and evaluation and Aboriginal health. The enabling platforms must be developed and support the core projects for the strategy to be a success. A four year capital project is another significant component of the NCCS and will create a new cancer centre in Prince George. This state of the art BCCA facility will be the sixth in the province, and the first in the North. The BCCA Centre for the North will form the hub of the NCCS, providing the radiation therapy and systemic therapy available in other regional centres and supporting the network of cancer control initiatives throughout the North