Tiryaki Kukla: Smoking cessation courses and tobacco prevention in the migrant population from Turkey

By the end 2013, the proportion of foreign residents in Switzerland was 23.8% and that of the population with a migration background was approximately 36%. Many of the smoking cessation courses offered in Switzerland so far do not reach the migrant population to the desired extent. Especially linguistically disadvantaged and vulnerable groups have limited access to these services. Simultaneously, the prevalence of tobacco consumption is in some cases high compared to the Swiss population. The present project is a combination of the migration-sensitive smoking cessation courses established in 2006 and the pilot project "Tiryaki Kukla", which ran until mid-2012. In 2010, the program was integrated into the National Smoking Cessation Programme. The target group is the migrant population from Turkey living Switzerland. This specific group was chosen as it has high smoking prevalence rates as well as high health risks. In addition, according to experts and literature it is a population, which is difficult to reach through health care and prevention. 
In the migration-sensitive smoking cessation courses offered in the Turkish language, promising results were achieved: 58.4% of the participants in the courses from 2010-2012 were still smoke-free 12 months after the course. The tested range of courses and the measures for promotion and tobacco prevention will be continued and evaluated. 
 

The general objective of the project is to achieve a change in norms towards being smoke-free among the migrant population from Turkey living in Switzerland. Concrete impact targets are as follows:
 

1. Each year, 12 information events (later 15)  on tobacco prevention take place as well as the recruitment for the smoking cessation courses in community settings. 
2. 6 smoking cessation courses are held per year (later 10). At least 18-30 (later 60-100) smokers of the target group participate in these.
3. At least 40% of the participants are still smoke-free after 12 months. 
4. Structural prevention is encourage in community-settings (smoke-free rooms).

For the information events and the smoking cessation courses, a relationship-based outreach approach is used. The courses are advertised through direct contact with selected groups of the Turkish and Kurdish-speaking migrant population. Additionally, the key players in the field of tobacco prevention are informed about the offer and receive the relevant materials for further dissemination. The courses are conducted based on a validated therapy manual developed in close cooperation with the target group and the organization Krebsliga Zürich. The evaluation of the courses is based on a standardized survey of course participants, conducted at two points (beginning of the courses and 3 months after the smoking cessation) and supplemented by a telephone follow-up after 12 months. The course instructors evaluate each course both orally and in writing. A summary report on the implementation and effectiveness of the programme is drawn up annually.
 

The specific framework we have developed for migration-sensitive smoking cessation therapy and tobacco prevention will be multiplied to further vulnerable target groups. Additionally, it will be continuously reviewed and adapted. Subsequently, evaluated experiences on tobacco cessation and tobacco prevention in a migration context will available nationally and internationally.