Adaptation of a brief smoke-free homes intervention for American Indian and Alaska Native families

BACKGROUND: The goal of adaptation is to maintain the effectiveness of the original intervention by preserving the core elements that account for its success while delivering an intervention that is tailored to the new community and/or cultural context. The current study describes the process of adapting an evidence-based smoke-free homes (SFH) intervention for use in American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) households. METHODS: We followed a systematic adaptation process. We first assessed the community through focus groups coordinated in collaboration with tribal partners. Because our team included the original developers of the intervention, the steps of understanding the intervention, selecting the intervention and consulting with experts were simplified. Additional steps included consulting with stakeholders through a national work group and collaboratively deciding what needed adaptation. RESULTS: A number of key themes pertinent to the adaptation of the SFH intervention were identified in the focus groups. These included the gravity of messaging about commercial tobacco use; respect, familialism, and intergenerationalism; imagery, including significant symbolism, colors, and representative role models; whether and how to address traditional tobacco; and, barriers to a SFH not adequately addressed in the original materials. CONCLUSIONS: Adaptation of an intervention to create smoke-free homes in AI/AN families necessitated both surface structure changes such as appearance of role models and deep structure changes that addressed core values, and beliefs and traditions. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-019-7301-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.