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An evaluation of Indigenous Tobacco Program smoking prevention workshops with First Nations youth in Ontario, Canada

  • Innovations in Policy and Practice
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Abstract

Setting

The Indigenous Tobacco Program (ITP) operated by the Indigenous Cancer Care Unit at Cancer Care Ontario provides customized tobacco prevention workshops to First Nations youth across Ontario, in partnership with First Nations communities and partner organizations.

Intervention

First Nations youth in Canada are more likely than non-Indigenous youth to be smokers. The ITP aims to address the negative health impacts of commercial tobacco, using culturally relevant approaches, tools and resources while remaining respectful to the significance of sacred tobacco. This paper aims to determine whether a culturally tailored tobacco prevention workshop increases tobacco-related knowledge among First Nations youth in Ontario.

Outcomes

The workshops exhibited promise in impacting First Nations youth knowledge on the harms of commercial tobacco, as after the workshop intervention, all indicators showed improved knowledge. Building strong and ongoing relationships with communities and partner organizations is vital to the success of the program.

Implications

Culturally tailored workshops grounded in traditional knowledge and values provide an opportunity to increase the knowledge of the harms of commercial tobacco among First Nations youth in Ontario. With commercial tobacco use and exposure having tremendous health consequences, such interventions are essential.

Résumé

Cadre

Le Programme pour la lutte contre le tabagisme chez les peuples autochtones (PLTPA) administré par l’Unité des soins de cancérologie chez les peuples autochtones à Cancer Care Ontario dispense des ateliers personnalisés de prévention du tabagisme aux jeunes Autochtones dans tout l’Ontario, en partenariat avec les communautés et organismes partenaires des Premières Nations.

Intervention

Les jeunes des Premières Nations canadiennes sont plus susceptibles de fumer que les jeunes non autochtones. Le PLTPA vise à remédier aux effets négatifs sur la santé du tabac commercial à l’aide d’approches, d’outils et de ressources pertinents sur le plan culturel, tout en demeurant respectueux de l’importance du tabac sacré. Cet article vise à déterminer si un atelier de prévention adapté sur le plan culturel permet d’accroître les connaissances relatives au tabac parmi les jeunes des Premières Nations de l’Ontario.

Résultats

Les ateliers ont eu des répercussions prometteuses sur les connaissances des jeunes des Premières Nations ayant trait aux effets néfastes du tabac commercial, puisqu’à la suite de l’atelier d’intervention, tous les indicateurs dénotaient une amélioration des connaissances à ce sujet. L’entretien de relations solides et continues avec les communautés et organismes partenaires est essentiel à la réussite du programme.

Implications

Les ateliers culturellement adaptés et fondés sur des connaissances et des valeurs traditionnelles permettent d’accroître les connaissances des jeunes des Premières Nations ontariennes ayant trait aux effets néfastes du tabac commercial. Au vu des impacts énormes sur la santé, liés à la consommation de tabac commercial et à l’exposition à celui-ci, de telles interventions sont essentielles.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the tremendous work of the Tobacco-Wise Leads, with further thanks to Nicole and Alicia for their contributions to the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indigenous Cancer Care Unit, Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario), 505 University Avenue, Toronto, M5G 1X3, ON, Canada

    Mara Habash, Amanda J. Sheppard & Richard Steiner

Authors
  1. Mara Habash
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  2. Amanda J. Sheppard
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  3. Richard Steiner
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. The analysis and first draft of the manuscript was written by Mara Habash and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amanda J. Sheppard.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Habash, M., Sheppard, A.J. & Steiner, R. An evaluation of Indigenous Tobacco Program smoking prevention workshops with First Nations youth in Ontario, Canada. Can J Public Health 112, 697–705 (2021). https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-021-00493-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-021-00493-9

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