Intervention description {11a}
Cancer
ALBERT, RECRUITMENT, CANCER
The development of the interventions is grounded on prior smoke-free policy endorsement and tobacco reduction/cessation programs. NYCHA conducted a smoke-free pilot project in 2015 centered on a smoke-free home pledge at a housing complex in Upper Manhattan [For the “reduction/cessation” intervention arm, Dr. David Albert, DDS, has led and directed the design of the tobacco cessation protocol. He also provided the foundational tools and trainings necessary to effectively use motivational interviewing to not only support smoking cessation, but also to reduce personal smoking. Dr. Albert’s expertise comes from implementing and evaluating evidence-based tobacco cessation programs at the New York Presbyterian (NYP) Cornell and NYP Columbia campuses and within affiliated community-based organizations, including many that engage minority populations. At NYP Hospital, he is the Tobacco Cessation Project Lead for the Medicaid Redesign Project funded by the NYDOH Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment Program. This program trains clinicians through a certified tobacco cessation specialist program, implements tobacco cessation counseling, and offers community presentations and engagement. As the Co-PI for the NCI funded Tobacco Cessation via Public Health Dental Clinics, he has examined the effectiveness of brief office-based interventions designed to assist patients quitting smoking or smokeless tobacco use. Dr. Albert is the co-Project Lead of the Development of a Tobacco Cessation Program for Cancer Patients at Columbia University. The project aims to implement an evidence-based tobacco cessation program for smoking patients at the Columbia University Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center.To further enhance the intervention curriculum, we have conducted key informant interviews with residents and experts in resident engagement, tobacco cessation, and housing-based health interventions. These interviews were designed to elicit strategies to not only improve the RCT approach, but also to ascertain necessary adaptations to the intervention protocols to maximize their efficacy. Such discussions led to expanding the scope of the reduction/cessation intervention which previously was designed to focus on relocating smoking and cessation only. Furthermore, our community partner, Health People, has previously conducted health education activities in similar settings and their expertise in resident facing activities will further enhance resident engagement.Prior to the implementation of the intervention, recruitment, and baseline data collection via survey questionnaire, passive drool sample collection and sensory building observations are conducted. Trained study staff obtain verbal consent upon the time of recruitment and data collection prior to enrollment in the study. Approximately a month after this completion, interventions are implemented by peer educators in accordance with respective building assignments.