IHLCDP Director, Dr. Joan Bottorff and Ms Danielle Wilson are leading a team to develop a smoking cessation program for Indigenous fathers and grandfathers who want to quit smoking cigarettes and chewing tobacco. In this research they consulted with key informants, developed and tested program prototypes and design features for the program with Indigenous men, and designed a Dads in Gear Indigenous program for implementation and formal evaluation.
The DIG Indigenous program is the first group program in the world to support Indigenous fathers and grandfathers in their efforts to quit smoking cigarettes and chewing tobacco. It is anticipated that with a decrease in Indigenous men’s smoking, there will be a decrease in hospitalization for chronic diseases such as COPD and other lung health issues and more smoke free homes for children and families.
More information about the Dads in Gear Indigenous program can be found on the program’s website: https://www.dadsingearindigenous.ca/
Other team members include: IHLCDP Associates Dr. Gayl Sarbit and Dr. Cristina Caperchione as well as Dr. John L. Oliffe, Ms. Kym Howay, Mr. Jeff Conners, Dr. Anima Anand, and Ms. Anne Huisken. This project was funded by Interior Health and the First Nations Health Authority.