Community model for smoking cessation at Tad Kean community in Mukdahan Province

Abstract

This Participatory Action Research (PAR) aimed to develop a community model to solve the smoking problem of Tad Kean community, Mukdahan province. The research was divided into three phases: the problem and impact analysis; the development of a model community; and the evaluation of the outcome.  Forty-seven informants participated in this study and data were collected through in-depth interviews, group discussions, and workshops. Also, data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The first phase revealed that the informants viewed smoking as a normal practice in the community.  Also, they perceived smoking is normal behavior in the community. The advantage of smoking is to relieve stress and tiredness although it possibly leads to smoking addiction. The community environment triggered smoking while the community perceived adverse effects of smoking on both smokers’ and non-smokers’ health and additional expenses. In regard to the development of the community model, it found that one out of two schools (50.00%) have complied with the smoke-free measures. Moreover, 77 families joined the smoke-free home program, and one temple became a non-smoking area. Eight “no-smoking” signs have been displayed at public places in the community and relevant actions were undertaken to establish a non-smoking funeral program. As for the results of the smoking cessation program, eight out of thirty- four community members succeeded smoking cessation for six months.