Developing novel smoking cessation resources for Aboriginal people who smoke tobacco and their healthcare providers: a mixed methods study

Many health professionals (HPs) are reluctant to offer smoking cessation advice to Aboriginal Australians who smoke; suggesting a need for better education to improve HP skills and knowledge to increase confidence. Previous studies exploring culturally relevant smoking cessation training for HPs have been effective among HPs working with Aboriginal Australians. Thus, identifying mechanisms to increase accessibility of these programs is an important public health issue. Augmented reality (AR) has the potential to enhance digital health interventions, and is effective and acceptable across a range of fields. Under the guidance of an Aboriginal advisory group, two sets of resources were developed; i) patient education and cessation resources for use by Aboriginal people who smoke, and ii) HP resources providing brief education to support Aboriginal patients who smoke. The aim of this study was to explore the acceptability of, and iteratively co-design these resources with HPs through qualitative interviews and questionnaires. HPs were recruited from two South Australian public hospitals between August 2020 and June 2021. One-on-one interviews were conducted with n=18 HPs, with transcripts coded using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA). Participants found that the AR-embedded patient resources provided engaging and relatable quit smoking support. The HP resources based on brief counselling techniques were considered a helpful reminder to prompt a smoking cessation conversation with Aboriginal patients. These resources were considered acceptable by HPs who treat Aboriginal Australians who smoke, and may serve as a useful adjunct to HP training sessions.