Tobacco Use Among Alaska Native College Students

描述（由申请人提供）：阿拉斯加原住民和美洲印第安人的烟草使用率远远高于非原住民。高烟草使用率被认为是这些人群中癌症和心脏病发病率过高的原因之一。然而，现有的烟草预防和戒烟计划可能无法满足美洲原住民的独特需求。如果我们要减少美洲土著人民和一般人口之间的健康差距，就必须制定文化上适当的干预措施。在非土著人中，最近的研究表明，大学时期是可能建立持久烟草使用模式的时期。正因为如此，青年期可能是实施旨在改变个人一生烟草使用过程的干预措施的最佳时机。到目前为止，还没有发表的研究专门调查美国印第安人或阿拉斯加土著大学生的烟草使用情况。拟议的研究将作为了解这一人群吸烟情况的第一步。Y-K三角洲阿拉斯加土著学生中烟草使用者的比例和特点将使用定量方法进行描述。我们将比较阿拉斯加原住民和美国印第安大学生的烟草使用模式。最后，我们将与阿拉斯加原住民大学生进行焦点小组调查，以调查这些学生对调查结果和潜在干预措施的反应。研究结果将作为制定和实施旨在减少阿拉斯加土著和美洲印第安大学生烟草使用的干预措施的第一步。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Tobacco use rates among Alaska Native and American Indian people are much higher than rates for non-Native people. High rates of tobacco use have been cited as one cause of the disproportionately high rates of cancer and heart disease in these populations. However, existing tobacco prevention and cessation programs may not meet the unique needs of Native American people. Culturally appropriate interventions must be developed if we are to reduce health disparities between Native American people and the general population. Among non-Native people, recent research has suggested that the college years are a time when lasting tobacco use patterns may be established. Because of this, young adulthood may be an optimal time to apply interventions intended to alter the course of an individual's tobacco use over their lifetime. To date, no published research has investigated tobacco use specifically among American Indian or Alaska Native college students. The proposed study would serve as an initial step towards understanding tobacco use in this population. The proportion and characteristics of tobacco users among Y-K Delta Alaska Native students will be described using quantitative methodology. We will compare tobacco use patterns in Alaska Native and American Indian college populations. Finally, we will carry out focus groups with Alaska Native college students to investigate those students' reactions to survey findings and potential interventions. Study findings will serve as an initial step towards developing and implementing interventions aimed at reducing tobacco use among Alaska Native and American Indian college students.