Implementing a Scalable Smoke-Free Intervention in Armenia and Georgia

(A five year project in partnership with George Washington University, Emory University, Armenian National Institute of Health, Armenian National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgian Center for Disease Control and Prevention)

Funding Agency: US National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute

PI: Varduhi Petrosyan, MS, PhD and Co-PI: Nour Alayan, PhD, MSN, RN

 

The project plans to use a community-engaged approach to adapt our intervention using robust adaptation frameworks and methods and test its effectiveness and implementation via partner organizations in AM and GE. The specific aims are to:

Aim 1: Adapt the intervention to be culturally appropriate for AM and GE and develop in-country capacity for intervention delivery. Approach: In each country 1) translate the materials and adapt imagery, then conduct focus groups among adult smokers and nonsmokers to adapt/refine the intervention; 2) train our local community partners to identify channels for recruiting participants (i.e., smokers living with nonsmokers or nonsmokers living with smokers who allow smoking in the home); and 3) train national quitline personnel to deliver the intervention.

Aim 2: Examine the effectiveness of the adapted intervention on SFH adoption among households in AM and GE. Use a randomized trial comparing the SFH intervention vs. control, we will test our hypotheses that the adapted intervention: a) increases establishment of SFHs at 6-month follow-up (primary outcome), as well as b) reduces SHSe in the home, increases smoke-free vehicles, and impacts the smoking behavior of smokers (i.e., fewer cigarettes smoked per day [cpd] and increased self-efficacy, motivation/readiness, cessation attempts, and smoking cessation) at 3- and 6-month follow-up (secondary outcomes).

Aim 3: Assess intervention reach, adoption, implementation, and maintenance potential, as well as related contextual influences. We will conduct a mixed-methods process evaluation triangulating data from the RCT and interviews with representatives from our local partners (i.e., public health centers/coalitions), local organizations (e.g., schools, primary care) who refer community members to the intervention, and national quitline counselors, and test our hypothesis that the intervention can be implemented in AM and GE.