Community Health Workers Boost Smoking Cessation in Adults With Serious Mental Illness

What is it about?

Tobacco use disorder is highly prevalent in people with serious mental illnesses, such as psychotic disorders, and lead to shorter life expectancy compared to those without mental illnesses. Community health worker (CHW) support to patients with serious mental illness and their primary care providers was effective in helping patients quit smoking and accept tobacco cessation medications. This study extended previous trial findings by showing that more visits and time with CHWs were linked to higher chances of quitting, and suggested ways to better carry out and integrate CHW support for tobacco cessation in the real-world.

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Photo by Rémi Walle on Unsplash

Photo by Rémi Walle on Unsplash

Why is it important?

We show that about 1-3, 30-minute community health worker visits per month over two years was optimal for achieving tobacco abstinence in adults with serious mental illness. Community health workers can thus be an effective way of overcoming treatment barriers and extending behavioral support to address unmet health needs of those with serious mental illness.