'Deadly' community-based smoking cessation research

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-07-18 00:01

Australia; NSW; VIC; ACT

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An Indigenous-led study aims to empower and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to be smoke-free. The 'Which Way?' study sought to address the national priority of smoking during pregnancy from an Indigenous standpoint, through a national survey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. This research, conducted in partnership and co‐ownership with Aboriginal communities in New South Wales, found that 90% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have tried to quit smoking and that quitting suddenly was associated with staying smoke‐free. The research is published in a special supplement of the Medical Journal of Australia, and includes an introduction to the 'Which Way?' study, two research papers, and a summary.

Media release

From: Medical Journal of Australia

“DEADLY” COMMUNITY-BASED SMOKING CESSATION RESEARCH

AN Indigenous-led study, published today as a Medical Journal of Australia Supplement, aims to empower and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to be smoke-free.

Coordinating editors of the Supplement, Dr Michelle Kennedy, a proud Wiradjuri woman and National Health and Medical Research Council Early Career Research Fellow at the University of Newcastle, and Ms Hayley Longbottom, a Jerringa/Cullunghutti/Wandi Wandian woman who is Programs and Executive Team Manager for the Waminda South Coast Women’s Health and Welfare Aboriginal Corporation, have written an accompanying editorial, also published by the MJA today.

“Who we are, where we come from, our cultural and community knowledge systems, inform the ways in which we see the world and how we approach research practice,” Kennedy and Longbottom wrote.

“The Which Way? study sought to address the national priority of smoking during pregnancy from an Indigenous standpoint, through a national survey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women of reproductive age.

“This research, conducted in partnership and co‐ownership with Aboriginal communities in New South Wales, found that 90% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have tried to quit smoking and that quitting suddenly was associated with staying smoke‐free.

“We also found that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are interested in a range of cessation support options.

“The supplement presents these findings, reporting the variances resulting from age, location and use of Aboriginal Health Services.”

The 4-chapter Supplement includes:

Miilwarranha (opening): introducing the Which Way? Study
Smoking and quitting characteristics of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women of reproductive age
What smoking cessation support strategies are of interest to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women of reproductive age? Findings from the Which Way? Study
Ngaaminya (find, be able to see): summary and key findings from the Which Way? Project

Attachments

Note: Not all attachments are visible to the general public. Research URLs will go live after the embargo ends.

Other Wiley, Web page Introduction. The URL will go live after the embargo ends

Research Wiley, Web page Study 1. The URL will go live after the embargo ends

Research Wiley, Web page Study 2. The URL will go live after the embargo ends

Other Wiley, Web page Summary. The URL will go live after the embargo ends

Editorial / Opinion Wiley, Web page The URL will go live after the embargo ends

Journal/
conference: Medical Journal of Australia

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: The University of Newcastle, The Australian National University, The University of Melbourne, La Trobe University

Funder: See individual papers for funding details.

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