Knowledge, perception, and willingness of emerging Public Health Advocates to effectively communicate about smoking cessation and Tobacco Harm Reduction in Africa
Abstract Background Media campaigns targeting young people are a valuable tool for promoting awareness about tobacco harm reduction (THR). Advocacy and communication efforts that inform about the risks of tobacco use, THR strategies, and smoking cessation methods can enhance policy compliance, minim...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Discover Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-023-00102-5 |
| _version_ | 1797349784334368768 |
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| author | Gabriel Ilerioluwa Oke Peter Sunday Ademola Edith Nnenna Utaka Eyinaikanan John Mohammed Fathelrahman Adam Blessed Okereke Ifunanya Mary-Ann Onyia Yusuff Adebayo Adebisi |
| author_facet | Gabriel Ilerioluwa Oke Peter Sunday Ademola Edith Nnenna Utaka Eyinaikanan John Mohammed Fathelrahman Adam Blessed Okereke Ifunanya Mary-Ann Onyia Yusuff Adebayo Adebisi |
| author_sort | Gabriel Ilerioluwa Oke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Media campaigns targeting young people are a valuable tool for promoting awareness about tobacco harm reduction (THR). Advocacy and communication efforts that inform about the risks of tobacco use, THR strategies, and smoking cessation methods can enhance policy compliance, minimize tobacco-related damages, and motivate individuals to quit smoking. This study investigates the understanding, perceptions, and capabilities of burgeoning public health advocates in effectively communicating smoking cessation and THR strategies in Africa. Methods This research adopts a concurrent explanatory sequential design. The target demographic population consists of public health enthusiasts, healthcare students, health communicators, and budding journalists aged 18–30 in Nigeria. The questionnaire, validated through an extensive literature review, was distributed via Google Forms. From 450 individuals expressing interest in the THRjourno project, 415 agreed to participate, responding to open-ended questions on smoking cessation and THR among young people. Data were analysed with Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS for quantitative aspects, while Atlas.ti was used for the qualitative interpretation of open-ended responses. Results Of the 415 participants, 73.7% lacked prior knowledge or proper understanding of THR. Most respondents (60.0%) regarded Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) as the most effective THR strategy, with 26.7% favoring e-cigarettes. A majority (73.3%) perceived NRT to be safer than smoking, while 48.3% believed e-cigarettes were safer. Approximately 70.8% agreed that THR products aid in smoking cessation. However, 38.3% were uncertain if these products are addictive. Participants referenced strategies/activities for creating awareness for THR, which include, “More advocacy and sensitization programs should be organized”, and “These programs should engage people who smoke tobacco and nicotine products themselves as champions.”Ambassadorial roles in public Universities should be granted to students as a medium to proliferate the central message of the THR. Conclusion Identified barriers to effective THR communication included misinformation propagated by health professionals and the media, religious and cultural constraints, and challenges in reaching remote areas. Strategies to enhance THR communication encompass increased advocacy and communication, government engagement and policy development, simplification of THR messages, and capacity building and engagement of advocates and stakeholders. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:35:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6ff3ab48c9f54c4ba9ec7ba32aca1ca0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2731-4537 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:35:27Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-6ff3ab48c9f54c4ba9ec7ba32aca1ca02024-01-21T12:30:14ZengSpringerDiscover Psychology2731-45372024-01-014111310.1007/s44202-023-00102-5Knowledge, perception, and willingness of emerging Public Health Advocates to effectively communicate about smoking cessation and Tobacco Harm Reduction in AfricaGabriel Ilerioluwa Oke0Peter Sunday Ademola1Edith Nnenna Utaka2Eyinaikanan John3Mohammed Fathelrahman Adam4Blessed Okereke5Ifunanya Mary-Ann Onyia6Yusuff Adebayo Adebisi7University of Global Health EquityLadoke Akintola University of TechnologyCentre for Health Systems Support and Initiatives for DevelopmentDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, Babcock UniversityFaculty of Pharmacy, University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of IlorinPharmacovigilance Directorate, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and ControlGlobal Health FocusAbstract Background Media campaigns targeting young people are a valuable tool for promoting awareness about tobacco harm reduction (THR). Advocacy and communication efforts that inform about the risks of tobacco use, THR strategies, and smoking cessation methods can enhance policy compliance, minimize tobacco-related damages, and motivate individuals to quit smoking. This study investigates the understanding, perceptions, and capabilities of burgeoning public health advocates in effectively communicating smoking cessation and THR strategies in Africa. Methods This research adopts a concurrent explanatory sequential design. The target demographic population consists of public health enthusiasts, healthcare students, health communicators, and budding journalists aged 18–30 in Nigeria. The questionnaire, validated through an extensive literature review, was distributed via Google Forms. From 450 individuals expressing interest in the THRjourno project, 415 agreed to participate, responding to open-ended questions on smoking cessation and THR among young people. Data were analysed with Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS for quantitative aspects, while Atlas.ti was used for the qualitative interpretation of open-ended responses. Results Of the 415 participants, 73.7% lacked prior knowledge or proper understanding of THR. Most respondents (60.0%) regarded Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) as the most effective THR strategy, with 26.7% favoring e-cigarettes. A majority (73.3%) perceived NRT to be safer than smoking, while 48.3% believed e-cigarettes were safer. Approximately 70.8% agreed that THR products aid in smoking cessation. However, 38.3% were uncertain if these products are addictive. Participants referenced strategies/activities for creating awareness for THR, which include, “More advocacy and sensitization programs should be organized”, and “These programs should engage people who smoke tobacco and nicotine products themselves as champions.”Ambassadorial roles in public Universities should be granted to students as a medium to proliferate the central message of the THR. Conclusion Identified barriers to effective THR communication included misinformation propagated by health professionals and the media, religious and cultural constraints, and challenges in reaching remote areas. Strategies to enhance THR communication encompass increased advocacy and communication, government engagement and policy development, simplification of THR messages, and capacity building and engagement of advocates and stakeholders.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-023-00102-5Tobacco harm reductionSmoking cessationYoung adultsCommunicationsAfrica |
| spellingShingle | Gabriel Ilerioluwa Oke Peter Sunday Ademola Edith Nnenna Utaka Eyinaikanan John Mohammed Fathelrahman Adam Blessed Okereke Ifunanya Mary-Ann Onyia Yusuff Adebayo Adebisi Knowledge, perception, and willingness of emerging Public Health Advocates to effectively communicate about smoking cessation and Tobacco Harm Reduction in Africa Discover Psychology Tobacco harm reduction Smoking cessation Young adults Communications Africa |
| title | Knowledge, perception, and willingness of emerging Public Health Advocates to effectively communicate about smoking cessation and Tobacco Harm Reduction in Africa |
| title_full | Knowledge, perception, and willingness of emerging Public Health Advocates to effectively communicate about smoking cessation and Tobacco Harm Reduction in Africa |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge, perception, and willingness of emerging Public Health Advocates to effectively communicate about smoking cessation and Tobacco Harm Reduction in Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge, perception, and willingness of emerging Public Health Advocates to effectively communicate about smoking cessation and Tobacco Harm Reduction in Africa |
| title_short | Knowledge, perception, and willingness of emerging Public Health Advocates to effectively communicate about smoking cessation and Tobacco Harm Reduction in Africa |
| title_sort | knowledge perception and willingness of emerging public health advocates to effectively communicate about smoking cessation and tobacco harm reduction in africa |
| topic | Tobacco harm reduction Smoking cessation Young adults Communications Africa |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-023-00102-5 |
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