Gender and Prevention: The role of gender in smoking cessation and alcohol reduction support

Smoking and alcohol use pose major health problems for at-risk groups such as people with a low socioeconomic position (SEP) and older adults. Little research has been conducted on the influence of gender on support for smoking cessation and alcohol reduction.
The aim of this project is to understand how support for smoking cessation and reducing problematic alcohol use may be applied in a gender-sensitive manner in high-risk populations. In the case of smoking, these are people with a low socio-economic position. For alcohol use, these are older adults.
Research questions:
1. What are the target group’s gender-specific needs in support for smoking cessation and alcohol reduction?
2. How do professionals address gender aspects in support and how does their gender affect their practice in relation to gender of clients?
3. How can gender-specific needs be met by professionals within the interventions developed in the two primary projects?
4. Which general lessons can we incorporate in interventions/treatment of professionals to make support more gender-sensitive?

Data collection
We collected empirical data among 16 low SEP (ex-)smokers and 15 older adults with (previous) problematic alcohol use. First, demographic characteristics and gender aspects were noted in a short survey. Second, experienced needs and preferences in professional support for smoking cessation and reduction of problematic alcohol use, in relation to three gender domains were explored in interviews. Interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed
We collect empirical data among 15 professionals who treat smokers and 9 professionals who treat problematic alcohol use. We established gender and other demographic characteristics in a short survey. We carried out semi-structured interviews on treatment practices in relation to four gender domains.

Information of this project regarding smoking/tobacco use can be requested from the Amsterdam UMC. For the part on alcohol use, data were collected and stored by project partner Tilburg University and any queries on this part of the project will be forwarded to them.

Data (interview transcripts) are considered too sensitive to share with third parties. The transcripts will be anonymised, but the context in the interview is likely to still include identifiable information about the interviewee.