Discussant: Helen Lettlow, DrPH

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Building a world where young people reject tobacco and anyone can quit

12th Annual Summer Public Health Research

Videoconference on Minority Health

“From The Ground Up: North Carolina’s on the Ground College

Campus Campaign”

Discussant: Helen Lettlow, DrPH

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HBCU Project Sites

This project engaged students in learning about research and encouraged them to take leadership to prevent tobacco use.

HBCUs include:• Bennett College for Women• North Carolina A&T State University in

Greensboro• North Carolina Central University in Durham

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Engage: Sister Chats

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INSPIRE: Sister Chat with Dr. M. Joycelyn Elders, Former U.S. Surgeon

General

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Change: Point of Sale Project

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Change: Point of Sale Project

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HBCU Project Goals

The goals of the “On the Ground Smoking Cessation and Prevention Project” are to:– Reduce smoking among college students– Strengthen campus smoking policies and– Raise public awareness in surrounding

communities

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HBCU Project Goals

The initiative seeks to engage college students to serve as effective communicators on these issues, and work with faculty and local leaders to develop resources to help reduce and prevent tobacco use in surrounding communities.

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Project Components

• NC Institute of Minority Economic Development– Administrative oversight– Aid program evaluation– Enhance sustainability

• Bennett College for Women– Peer Health Advocates– Sister Chats– Targeted marketed practices by neighborhood– Smoke free campus

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Project Components

• NC A&T University– Student Researcher/Advocates

– Media Broadcast

• North Carolina Central University– Research: Multi-Site Survey

– Web Based Survey

– Tobacco policy courses

– Smoke free dormitories

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Starting with National Research Findings

• Reports of college students’ tobacco use range from 27% to 34%. (American Legacy Foundation, 2003; Rigotti, Moran and Wechlser, 2005)

10% to 20% of college students initiate smoking or become regular smokers while they are in college. (Rigotti, Moran and Wechlser, 2005)

• In 2004, African Americans made up 12% of college-student population at 4-year institutions.

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HBCUs Setting the Research Agenda

• Prior research has been mainly conducted in non-minority college settings.

• Minimal evidence to support considerations of cultural competency in prior research findings.

• Little is known about the prevalence, social norms and patterns of smoking among students attending HBCUs.

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HBCUs Setting the Research Agenda

Social Norms:• The majority of the students (83.6%) responded that

smoking was discouraged among their peers.

• 8.9% of smokers reported that they prefer associating with peers who smoke compared to less than 1% (.8%) of non-smokers.

• 13.9% of current smokers compared to 43.8% of non smokers reported that none of their closest friends smokes.

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HBCU Research Findings

Reasons for Smoking By Race:

African Americans• “Like the sensation I get” (25.5%); • “ Don’t Know” (23.6%)• “Other” (23.6%)

Whites and Other• “Habit I can’t control” (40.5%)• “Like the sensation I get” (20%)• “Social tool” (16%).

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Enhancing HBCU Research Capacity

In the past 12 months, the most common ways students sought help for quitting were:

• Sought information from the website or use web-based program (14.1%).

• Attended a smoking cessation or health education program at school (10.6%).

• Used medicine to help them stop (9.9%)

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HBCU Research Findings

Leading reasons given by smokers for not being able to stop smoking:

• Strong cravings for a cigarette (44.2%)

• Feelings of irritability (29.3%).

• Peer influence (23.2%)

• Lack social support (22.6%)

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What Cessation Programs are perceived as beneficial?

• Self-help” (49.6%)

• Peer support (46.1%)

• School based programs (39.1%)

• Family support models (34.7%)

• Peer education models (26.7%)

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Developing Students as Tobacco Advocates

North Carolina A&T Student Advocacy

Three objectives:

1. Student recruiting, training, and motivating

2. Engaging the Campus and Community

3. Achieving buy-in among faculty and administrators

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Recruiting – What’s in it for meMaking Tobacco Control Relevant to Faculty & Students

Administration & Faculty

• Academics

• Service Learning

• Multidisciplinary partnerships

• Good PR

• Grants and research

Students

• Academics

• Service Learning

• Good PR

• Exposure to research and new experiences

• Develop relationships with campus and community leaders

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Research – Storefront Data Collection

Compared A&T to UNC-G’s campus:

1. Number of signs and ads

2. Placement of signs

3. Sale of loose cigarettes

4. Sale of designer cigars

5. Visibility of prevention signs

6. Merchants checking ID before selling tobacco

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Student-Led Radio Program

LISTEN UP: Talking Tobacco in Your Community Wednesday 5:30 p.m. -- February 23 to April 27, 2005 • February 23 –The Price You Pay - A Conversation with Physicians Guests: Dr. Percy Jones, MD and Dr. George Kilpatrick, MD

• March 2 – How One Greensboro Community Feels About Tobacco Guests: Ms. Gloria Rankin, Ms. Mary Gillette, and Ms. Malaika

Stubbs-Wilson

• March 9 – Victims of Tobacco Related Illnesses: Survivors Speak Guest: Mr. Wade Hampton

• March 16 – Tobacco Use on A&T ‘s Campus Guests: Student Researchers

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Engaging the Campus and Community

• Research Training

• Student-Led Radio Program

• Education Programs & Presentations

• Community Involvement

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Engaging the local community

• Examined an Issue of Importance to the Entire Community

• Provided Culturally Appropriate Information/Messages to Community Residents

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In Summary

• North Carolina has been a fertile ground for establishing this intervention with 11 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

• North Carolina has the distinction of having the largest number of HBCUs of any state.

• The On The Ground Project represents an opportunity to serve a population often overlooked in tobacco control.

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Synergy and Sustainability

• This project created an opportunity to:

• Enhance the collaboration of NC based HBCUs

• Showcase a model for future partnerships

• Secure additional grants funds from NC Health Trust Fund

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Capacity Building

• Enhanced the role of HBCUs in the tobacco control movement

• Trained and developed student leaders

• Enhanced research capacity

• Provided tools for program evaluation

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Priority Populations InitiativePhase II

• This initiative has been successful.

• Phase II of the Priority Population Initiative will include funding to expand key aspects of the current

HBCU Initiative.

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Conclusion

• Minority serving educational institutions will be invited to submit a funding application later this year.

• More information about Legacy’s programs may be found at www.americanlegacy.org.

Documents

Discussant: Helen Lettlow, DrPH