Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
Drug Alcohol Rev. 2012 Jul;31(5):709-13. doi: 10.1111/j.1465-3362.2012.00438.x. Epub 2012 Apr 4.
Despite substantial health disadvantage, few intervention studies have examined ways to deliver smoking cessation support to homeless people. This proof-of-concept study explored the feasibility and acceptability of a novel, low-cost, telephone-delivered program.
Clients aged over 18 years, English-speaking and currently receiving accommodation support from a homelessness outreach centre were invited to participate in a 'Phone for Health' program. Six sessions conducted once per week provided participants with personalised counselling about smoking cessation or reduction, as well as fruit and vegetable consumption, alcohol use, physical activity and sun protection. Both clients and staff completed follow-up quantitative surveys, and clients completed qualitative interviews.
Of 14 eligible participants, 12 consented to taking part and completed baseline measures, 10 commenced the telephone intervention and six completed the intervention program. Average length of telephone sessions was 17.8 min and participants completed an average of 3.8 sessions. Findings suggested high acceptability with most participants reporting that the Phone for Health program helped them meet their smoking reduction goals, and was convenient, useful and practical. Most participants reported making changes to their health risk behaviours as a result of taking part in the program.
Telephone delivery of the smoking cessation and other health behaviours intervention was acceptable and feasible. The results provide pragmatic lessons for the development of future health research and practice with an underserved population markedly difficult to reach and engage.
尽管健康状况明显不佳，但很少有干预研究探讨如何为无家可归者提供戒烟支持。这项概念验证研究探讨了一种新颖、低成本、电话提供的计划的可行性和可接受性。
邀请年龄在 18 岁以上、会讲英语且目前正在从无家可归者外展中心获得住宿支持的客户参加“Phone for Health”计划。每周一次的六次会议为参与者提供有关戒烟或减少吸烟、增加水果和蔬菜摄入量、饮酒、体育锻炼和防晒的个性化咨询。客户和工作人员都完成了后续的定量调查，客户还完成了定性访谈。
在 14 名符合条件的参与者中，有 12 名同意参与并完成了基线测量，有 10 名开始了电话干预，有 6 名完成了干预计划。电话会议的平均长度为 17.8 分钟，参与者平均完成了 3.8 次会议。研究结果表明，该计划的接受度很高，大多数参与者表示 Phone for Health 计划帮助他们实现了减少吸烟的目标，而且方便、有用、实用。大多数参与者报告称，由于参与该计划，他们改变了自己的健康风险行为。
电话提供戒烟和其他健康行为干预是可行且可接受的。这些结果为未来针对服务不足的人群（这些人群难以接触和参与）开展健康研究和实践提供了实用的经验教训。
