scholarly journals Fefine Tonga moe ifi tapaka: A qualitative study to explore Tongan female tobacco smoking & cessation in the Auckland region.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 524-530
Author(s):  
Linda Palavi ◽  
Vili Nosa

ABSTRACT Introduction Tongan female smokers’ smoking experiences have manifested within a realm of socioeconomic and cultural conditions in New Zealand with cessation service engagement relatively low. Due to the projected tobacco burden attributed to Pacific women, pertinent research proves vital to bettering understandings of smoking and cessation within this group. This study explored the knowledge and experiences of smoking and smoking cessation services among Tongan women aged 16 years and over, living in the Auckland region. Methods This qualitative research design utilised the Kakala model to ensure processes were culturally appropriate and meaningful. Data was collected through eight face-to-face semi-structured interviews transcribed by the researcher and employed the toli, teu and luva process from the Kakala model to form relevant themes. Findings The findings suggest smoking among Tongan females is a social vector that marks independence and maintains friendships, despite known adverse health effects and stigma. It is characterised as stress relief that has habituated into day-to-day routine for most. Their aspirations to live longer for their family is a strong motivator but quitting remains difficult and should be done autonomously by the individual. Tongan female smokers stated smoking cessation services as ineffective and need to be adapted and consulted by and within the community. Stop smoking services should encourage autonomy among Tonga women in order to improve utilisation and engagement. Service delivery for Tongan female smokers needs to be on-going and long-term support reoriented within the community for more Tongan women to become completely smokefree. Conclusions Tongan female smoking in New Zealand is comprised of experiences surrounding friendships, family and culture. This study concludes that although smoking harms are widely known, cessation service delivery can be transformed by utilizing existing Tongan cultural roles such as that of the mehikitanga (paternal aunt) to encourage non-smoking among extended female generations.

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-95
Author(s):  
Vili Nosa ◽  
Kotalo Leau ◽  
Natalie Walker

ABSTRACT Introduction: Pacific people in New Zealand have one of the highest rates of smoking.  Cytisine is a plant-based alkaloid that has proven efficacy, effectiveness and safety compared to a placebo and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking cessation.  Cytisine, like varenicline, is a partial agonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, and blocks the rewarding effects of nicotine. Cytisine is naturally found in some plants in the Pacific region, and so may appeal to Pacific smokers wanting to quit. This paper investigates the acceptability of cytisine as a smoking cessation product for Pacific smokers in New Zealand, using a qualitative study design. Methods: In December 2015, advertisements and snowball sampling was used to recruit four Pacific smokers and three Pacific smoking cessation specialists in Auckland, New Zealand. Semi-structured interviews where undertaken, whereby participants were asked about motivations to quit and their views on smoking cessation products, including cytisine (which is currently unavailable in New Zealand). Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim, with thematic analysis conducted manually. Findings: Pacific smokers reported wanting to quit for loved ones and family, but did not find currently available smoking cessation products effective. Almost all participants had not previously heard of cytisine, but many of the Pacific smokers were keen to try it. Participants identified with cytisine on a cultural basis (given its natural status), but noted that their use would be determined by the efficacy of the medicine, its cost, side-effects, and accessibility. They were particularly interested in cytisine being made available in liquid form, which could be added to a “smoothie” or drunk as a “traditional tea”.  Participants thought cytisine should be promoted in a culturally-appropriate way, with packaging and advertising designed to appeal to Pacific smokers. Conclusions: Cytisine is more acceptable to Pacific smokers than other smoking cessation products, because of their cultural practices of traditional medicine and the natural product status of cytisine.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 346
Author(s):  
Anjum Memon ◽  
John Barber ◽  
Emma Rumsby ◽  
Samantha Parker ◽  
Lisa Mohebati ◽  
...  

Background In most European countries, women are relatively more susceptible to smoking-related diseases, find it more difficult to quit and more likely to relapse than men. With the aim to improve understanding of women’s needs from smoking cessation services, this qualitative study examines perceptions of women from deprived communities on the National Health Service Stop Smoking Service in England.Methods A qualitative study of 11 women, smokers and ex-smokers, who had used Stop Smoking Services located in disadvantaged communities in East Sussex, England. Data were collected through focus group and semi-structured interviews, and were subjected to thematic analysis.Results Women felt that services tailored to their needs would improve cessation rates. They expect smoking cessation facilitators to be non-judgemental and to offer psychological insight into addiction. However, women’s opinions differed on the importance for facilitators to be female or ex-smokers, and on the preference of group or one-to-one services, some women expressed a preference for women only groups. The women praised the continuity of care, capacity for peer support, flexibility of time and location and free cessation aids offered. Conversely, the women felt that services were poorly advertised, that access was not universally good, and that services at work place and drop-in groups would improve access for working women and women with young children.Conclusion Flexible services that are tailored towards the needs of individual smokers and better dissemination of information regarding the range of services available could facilitate greater uptake of smoking cessation services for women in deprived communities.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Davey ◽  
Eldrede Kahiya ◽  
Jayne Krisjanous ◽  
Lucy Sulzberger

Purpose While service inclusion principles raise the awareness of scholars to service that improves holistic well-being, little research explicitly investigates the spiritual dimensions of service inclusion. This study, therefore, aims to explore faith-based service inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative case study of the Salvation Army’s Chikankata Services in Zambia was undertaken. Semi-structured interviews with the organization’s leaders and professionals were analyzed thematically. Findings Service inclusion pillars evince contextualized meaning and priority. In resource-constrained, vulnerable communities, faith-based service inclusion prioritizes two additional pillars – “fostering eudaimonic well-being” and “giving hope,” where existence is precarious, fostering (hedonic) happiness is of low priority. Findings reveal that pillars and processes are mutually reinforcing, harnessed by the individual and collective agency to realize transformative outcomes from service inclusion. Research limitations/implications This paper provides unique insight into faith-based service inclusion but acknowledges limitations and areas warranting further research. Practical implications The study yields important managerial implications. Service providers can use the framework to identify the contextual priority and/or meaning of service inclusion pillars and relevant reciprocal processes. The framework emphasizes the harnessing potential of individual agency and capability development for transformative well-being. Social implications Faith-based service inclusion, predicated on inclusion, human dignity and holistic well-being, has important implications for reducing the burden on scarce resources while building resilience in communities. Originality/value By examining a faith-based service in sub-Saharan Africa, this paper provides a holistic framework conceptualizing pillars, processes, agency and outcomes to extend Fisk et al.’s (2018) service inclusion pillars and to better understand the shaping of service delivery for service inclusion.


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lana Lan Chan

First-hand cigarette smoking is known to result in adverse health effects in adults, influencing wellbeing physically and mentally. The most prevalent physical consequences are cardiovascular diseases, cancer of the throat and oral cavities, diseases of the bowel, eye, respiratory system, and reproductive system. Arguably, direct effects of tobacco smoking have been said to affect mental aspects of wellbeing such as depression, mood, and anxiety disorders. Undoubtedly smoking comes with many negative effects, but with implementation of smoking cessation strategies, it is possible to strengthen the overall health and wellbeing of smokers. As such, Health Canada recognizes the many health benefits associated with smoking cessation, by delivering health-promoting campaigns that strongly urge, it is not too late to quit.  


Author(s):  
Nadine Ballam ◽  
Anne Sturgess

In February 2018, a full-time provider of gifted education opened in New Zealand with its initial cohort of children. This provider catered for learners from ages 1-15 years who did not ‘fit’ in mainstream education settings. This paper reports on a research project that focused on the effectiveness of the learning approach at this school in its inaugural year. Two sources of data informed this research, including semi-structured interviews with parents and learning and support staff, and an analysis of documents related to the philosophy, curriculum, and learning approach. This paper reports on benefits and limitations of the learning approach identified by the parent participants in the study.


Author(s):  
Mina N. Anadolu ◽  
Wayne S. Sossin

In neurons, mRNAs are transported to distal sites to allow for localized protein synthesis. There are many diverse mechanisms underlying this transport. For example, an individual mRNA can be transported in an RNA transport particle that is tailored to the individual mRNA and its associated binding proteins. In contrast, some mRNAs are transported in liquid-liquid phase separated structures called neuronal RNA granules that are made up of multiple stalled polysomes, allowing for rapid initiation-independent production of proteins required for synaptic plasticity. Moreover, neurons have additional types of liquid-liquid phase–separated structures containing mRNA, such as stress granules and P bodies. This chapter discusses the relationships between all of these structures, what proteins distinguish them, and the possible roles they play in the complex control of mRNA translation at distal sites that allow neurons to use protein synthesis to refine their local proteome in many different ways.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 2299
Author(s):  
Rachael M. McLean ◽  
Zhengxiu Xie ◽  
Vicky Nelson ◽  
Vili Nosa ◽  
Hla Thein ◽  
...  

People receiving haemodialysis have considerable and complex dietary and healthcare needs, including co-morbidities. A recent New Zealand study has shown that few patients on haemodialysis are able to meet nutritional requirements for haemodialysis. This study aims to describe the perspectives and experiences of dietary management among patients on haemodialysis in New Zealand. This exploratory qualitative study used in-depth semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants from different ethnic groups. Forty interviews were conducted, audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. An inductive approach was taken using thematic analysis. Forty participants were interviewed. Participants spoke of major disruption to their lives as a result of their chronic kidney disease and being on haemodialysis, including loss of employment, financial challenges, loss of independence, social isolation and increased reliance on extended family. Most had received adequate dietary information, although some felt that more culturally appropriate support would have enabled a healthier diet. These findings show that further support to make the recommended dietary changes while on haemodialysis should focus on socio-cultural factors, in addition to the information already provided.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document