Smoking rates among culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities have not been modified by ‘mainstream' health promotion efforts. The NSW Health survey data reports rates of ‘daily' or ‘occasional' smoking of 42.3% among Lebanese-born men.

We conducted a randomised control trial to evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of culturally specific and intensive smoking cessation intervention in Arabic-speaking smokers.

Method:

34 GPs in Sydney South West recruited 409 self-reported current smokers from Arabic background, aged 18-65 years (average 36years). Intervention group patients (n= 221) were offered a telephone-based program delivered by bilingual psychologists and comprising assessment and behavioural advice, written information and up to six follow-up calls (on quit date, one, three, six and twelve weeks after quit date). Control group patients (n=188) received ‘usual care' offered by their GPs.

Main outcome measure

Self-reported point prevalence abstinence and shift in smoker's stage-of-change towards intention to quit at 6 and 12 months.

Results:

Of the 221 smokers allocated to intervention, less than half (n=107, 48%) gave consent to their GP to be referred to a counsellor. Upon completion of follow-up data collection (by April), further data analysis to identify point-prevalent quit rates at 6 months and 12 months will be preformed and presented. Factors associated with accepting telephone counselling smoking cessation intervention also will be discussed.

Conclusions:

This study will evaluate a culturally appropriate smoking cessation intervention in a CALD community at high risk of tobacco-related morbidity and mortality.

Implications:

The results will contribute to an otherwise impoverished evidence base for national policy targeted CALD communities.