A motivational, gender-sensitive smoking cessation resource for family members of patients with lung cancer

Purpose/Objectives: To gather feedback on an innovative gender-sensitive booklet that draws on emotional connections and relationship factors to motivate smoking cessation.

Research Approach: Qualitative, descriptive.

Setting: Six provinces in Canada.

Participants: 30 family members of patients with lung cancer who were currently smoking or had recently quit.

Methodologic Approach: Parallel booklets for women and men were developed using language and images to emphasize family relationships and gender considerations to motivate smoking cessation. Participants were provided with the women’s and men’s versions of the resource, and they were asked to review the gender-specific version of the booklet that was relevant to them. Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted, and transcriptions were analyzed for themes.

Findings: Three themes were evident in the data, including “new perspectives: appreciating the effects of smoking on relationships,” “reconsidering smoking cessation: relatioal motivation,” and “gendered connections: recognizing themselves in the booklet.” Although participants voiced other important reasons for smoking cessation, family relationships appeared to bolster motivation for stopping smoking. The majority of participants recommended that the dual-format booklet be available in healthcare settings.

Conclusions: A gender-sensitive approach that focuses on relationship factors represents an acceptable way to engage relatives of patients with lung cancer in discussions to support smoking cessation.

Interpretation: Approaches to supporting smoking cessation among relatives of patients diagnosed with lung cancer should draw on positive relationship bonds and caring connections to motivate cessation.