Text2QuitPLUS: A Text-based Smoking Cessation Intervention for Sexual and Gender Minority Groups

ABSTRACT Smoking among sexual and gender minority (SGM) groups, which include lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals, have been reported from different sources as highly prevalent (46% for gay men and 48% for lesbians). Considering that the smoking rate within SGM groups is more than double that of

the general population (19%) and that smoking accounts there is an increased risk for SGM individuals to suffer from this fatal condition. Text effective at-risk mobile for at least 30% of all cancer deaths, messaging programs are for smoking cessation and other health behaviors. appealing to traditionally hard-to-reach,

populations who experience barriers to smoking cessation interventions, and who have high rates of phone and text messaging use, which is the case for SGM users. it is clear that They are Text2Quit is a smoking cessation intervention that sends tailored, supportive texts to users based on self-selected smoking quit date. Although

this program has been successfully evaluated with the general population in a randomized trial and has been also tailored to pregnant women, no study has been conducted for evaluating its feasibility specifically among SGM smokers. This project aims: (1) To develop and evaluate the design of Text2QuitPLUS, an SGM-tailored

version of Text2Quit, through a qualitative approach among 16 SGM adult smokers; (2) To examine recruitment, retention, and smoking abstinence rates at 1, 3, and 6-month follow-up among 80 SGM smokers randomized either into the original Text2Quit or the Text2QuitPLUS arm. Engagement with the program will be

also measured bycalculating the number of text message responses for each SGM participant from the system records ; (3) To conduct mixed-method research among 32 SGM smokers completing their participation in the feasibility trial for better understanding study participants' acceptability of the cessation interventions.

Results will contribute to reducing tobacco-related health disparities among SGM groups. Irene Tami-Maury, D.M.D., M.Sc., Dr.P.H., a Latina scientist appointed as a tenure-track Assistant Professor at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, is seeking 3-years of support through an NCI K22 Transition

Career Development for the proposed transition career development plan and research. To fill critical gaps in her experience, she will obtain specialized training, expert advice, and first-hand experience in implementing behavioral interventions targeting underserved populations, mHealth, advanced statistics for analyzing longitudinal data, and mixed methods approaches. She will also expand her knowledge

and skills related to tobacco cessation, SGM health disparities, and research ethics. Dr. Tami-Maury's comprehensive training and research plans supported by an advisory committee of established researchers in the field will secure her long-term goal of establishing an independently-funded research program in cancer

prevention and tobacco cessation, with a focus on reducing tobacco-related health disparities for SGM individuals. Award to Promote Diversity