Grant Number:	1R01CA309088-01A1 Interpret this number
Primary Investigator:	Bernat, Debra
Organization:	George Washington University
Project Title:	Evaluation of a Peer-Led Smoking Cessation Program in Public Housing
Fiscal Year:	2026

ABSTRACT Populations with the least income and education incur the greatest tobacco attributable morbidity and mortality. One-third of adults living in public housing smoke cigarettes, compared to 12% of adults in the general population. Lower rates of smoking cessation are a key reason smoking prevalence remains high among this population. An extensive literature search revealed only four published cigarette smoking cessation interventions on smokers living in public housing. Results of these studies are equivocal. Two studies showed a larger quit rate among the intervention condition compared to the comparison condition, while two showed no differential quit rates between the two conditions. The proposed study builds on the published randomized studies showing potential benefits of tobacco cessation counseling and nicotine replacement therapy, as well as a recent pilot study showing the feasibility and potential efficacy of a peer mentoring approach. The proposed study utilizes an experimental design to assess the effect of a peer-led smoking cessation intervention, including eight group counseling sessions and nicotine replacement therapy, on-site at properties managed by the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA). Stratified randomization (by sex) will be used to assign residents who smoke (n=500) to the intervention or control condition. All participants will complete baseline, 2-month, and 6-month assessments. Quit rates, verified by saliva cotinine, at 6-months will be compared between the intervention and control groups, and effect modifiers of the intervention-quit rate association will be examined. In-depth interviews will be conducted with twenty randomly selected program participants as part of the process evaluation. While substantial progress has been made in lowering the prevalence of cigarette use in the U.S., cigarette use among individuals of low socioeconomic status remain high. It is critical that randomized trials, such as the one proposed, are conducted and assessed for efficacy to continue to reduce tobacco use.





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