Exploring the social context of smoking behaviours: insights from stop-smoking advisors in deprived communities in Northwest of England UK.

Abstract

Background: The successive UK governments have introduced measures to enhance access to stop-smoking services. However, these efforts have primarily focused on restricting access and promoting individual behaviour changes, overlooking the social conditions that contribute to smoking behaviours. While promoting individual behaviour changes can be beneficial, in the face of growing health inequalities, lasting change requires collective action and structural reforms. This research examines the limitations of individual-focused stop-smoking interventions in deprived communities. It provides a unique perspective by analysing practitioners' experiences promoting stop-smoking initiatives in a disadvantaged neighbourhood in northwest England. It underscores the significance of adopting comprehensive strategies for smoking cessation, drawing on practitioners' insights to address the broader determinants of smoking behaviour. These findings are crucial for understanding the complexities of smoking cessation in deprived communities. Methods: The research used interpretative phenomenology to comprehensively analyse six lived experiences of stop-smoking advisors in Northwest England. Results: The analysis identified four overarching themes fundamental for delivering stop-smoking services in these communities: 1. Developing a skilled, confident, and culturally competent stop-smoking advice team 2. Understanding other complex social, mental, and physical health issues. 3. Bringing the stop-smoking programme to those who need it the most. 4. Adapting the service to meet the user's needs. Conclusions: This article presented evidence indicating that behaviour-oriented interventions have resulted in a disproportionate decrease in smoking rates, with a more rapid decline in the least deprived areas compared to the deprived ones. The inverse care law theory provides a clear framework for understanding these differences. It emphasises the need for both behavioural and structural interventions to address smoking habits in deprived neighbourhoods, highlighting the impact of socioeconomic factors and the limitations of individual behaviour-focused stop-smoking interventions. The study calls for a comprehensive approach that combines behavioural interventions with measures to address the underlying causes of smoking in deprived communities.