Cancer Control Research
1R03CA080641-01
Beech, Bettina M.
SMOKING INITIATION AMONG AFRICAN AMERICANS--PILOT SURVEY
AbstractDESCRIPTION: (Applicant's Description) African-American adolescents have
the lowest prevalence rates of cigarette smoking compared with adolescents
in other ethnic groups; however, African-American adults have among the
highest prevalence rates of cigarette smoking compared with other ethnic
groups. The factors that influence this paradoxical pattern of cigarette
use from adolescence to adulthood remains undetermined. The goal of this
pilot study is to use a theory-based approach to assess the specific
cultural factors that influence the delay and subsequent initiation of
smoking among young adult African-Americans (aged 17-35). New Orleans has
approximately 70 percent African-American residential population. This city
therefore, is an opportune location to study the smoking behavior of this
population. Guided by the PEN-3 model, focus groups will be conducted with
members of the largest group to determine salient themes specific to
African-Americans for inclusion in a newly developed, culturally-specific
questionnaire. Additionally, this new survey will be extensively
pilot-tested and psychometrically evaluated. Identification of
ethnic-specific factors that influence the smoking behavior among this
population is necessary for the development of culturally-specific and
effective smoking prevention and cessation programs for this population.
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