Addressing tobacco use in the context of complex social needs: A new conceptual framework and approach to address smoking cessation in community health centers

OBJECTIVE: This article presents a new conceptual framework “Connection to Health for Smokers” (CTHS), its application to address smoking cessation, and its acceptability in community health centers (CHCs). METHODS: CTHS, an online interactive patient educational tool comprehensively implements the “5 A's” (ask, advise, assess, assist, and arrange) within the context of patients' social and behavioral health needs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five health educators (nurses) who administered CTHS with 62 patients to evaluate the acceptability of the program. Thematic analyses were conducted with interview transcripts. RESULTS: CHC health educators viewed CTHS has enhanced patient-centered communication, was able to identify patients' needs beyond tobacco use, and individualize action planning to integrate social and behavioral health needs. CONCLUSION: CTHS received enthusiasm from CHC health educators as a helpful tool to address tobacco use among their patients. Comprehensive on-site smoking cessation programs at CHCs that provide a structured evidence-based approach informed by an understanding of each patient's coexisting social and behavioral health needs may play an important role in reducing tobacco use disparities in the United States. INNOVATION: CTHS offers a new promising framework to comprehensively integrate the 5A's within the context of social and behavioral determinants of health for smoking cessation.