In these readings, we sought to translate contributions from anthropological studies, which are often observational, to selleck chemical Dorsomorphin the design of contextually relevant smoking cessation interventions. In an iterative process, coauthors met to discuss the analysis, specifically the relevance of results to smoking cessation disparities. Recommendations for interventions designed to diminish U.S.-based disparities were developed from lessons learned in international settings. To increase the practical applications, we further synthesized the analysis into research and clinical recommendations accessible to smoking cessation practitioners. Anthropological Tools Relevant for Increasing Effectiveness of Cessation Interventions In this section, we discuss three anthropological tools relevant to the development of evidence-based interventions: (a) culture, (b) reflexivity, and (c) qualitative methods.

Culture From an anthropological perspective, culture is a dynamic influence observable in social interaction and constantly shifting contingent on changes in context (place and social composition; Abel, Fitzgerald, & Plumridge, 2002; Bottorff, Oliffe, Kalaw, Carey, & Mroz, 2006). Rather than the popular definition as a static set of beliefs, culture is conceived by anthropologists as a project in the making. By using culture as a dynamic concept, we can examine why people smoke when they smoke across particular cultural contexts (Nichter, 2003); as well as why they quit when they do (see Table 1).

Furthermore, designing a smoking cessation intervention may benefit from using the vector control approach used in malaria and dengue fever prevention, which is attentive to space and contextual influences. According to the vector control approach, certain spaces can be considered ��breeding sites�� and may trigger the idea, craving, and practice of smoking; certain social relationships that lead to increases in smoking can be considered ��vectors�� (Nichter, Quintero, Nichter, Mock, & Shakib, 2004). To intervene effectively will require assessing and converting the breeding sites and vectors that foment smoking into those that encourage cessation. Relevant questions include the following (see Table 2): What are key elements to contexts that generate or limit the craving to smoke? Likewise, in what situations do people feel most motivated to quit? And, how can interventions target social relationships considered vectors of smoking dependence? Table 1.

Applying Anthropological Tools to Improve Cultural Targeting of Smoking Cessation Intervention Effectiveness Research Table 2. Translation Activities: From Ideas to Smoking Cessation Interventions for Persons Experiencing Tobacco-Related Health Disparities By relation, the influence of messages from kin and social relations to the smoker must be examined closely Batimastat (see Table 2).