Who Are Health Influencers? Characterizing a Sample of Tobacco Cessation Interveners.

Author(s): Campbell J, Mays MZ, Yuan NP, Muramoto ML

Affiliation(s): 1 Research Specialist Senior, 2 Associate Professor, 3 Associate Professor, University of Arizona, College of Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Tucson, AZ., 4 Assistant Professor, University of Arizona, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Health Promotion Sciences, Tucson, AZ.

Publication date & source: 2007-03, Am J Health Behav., 31(2):181-192.

Publication type:

Objectives: To describe characteristics of health influencers (HIs) prior to training in brief tobacco cessation interventions (BI). Methods: HIs (n=910) in Arizona were recruited for a randomized controlled trial comparing training modalities. Results: Typically middle-aged (M=43, SD=14), non-Hispanic white (68%), female (77%), non-tobacco users (93%), most identified personal (89%) rather than job-related (3%) motivators for becoming cessation interveners. Confidence about intervention ability was high (93%); knowledge scores, however, were low (M=55%, SD=13%). Conclusions: HIs exhibiting high motivation to intervene but lacking knowledge about BI strategies may be an untapped resource for tobacco cessation and a variety of other health promotion interventions.