Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

To address high smoking rates among First Nations, Inuit, and Métis (FNIM) peoples living in Ontario, TEACH and STOP at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) have worked to increase health equity for FNIM peoples through collaboration. Using the Interactive Systems Framework as the guide, TEACH and STOP have aimed to: (1) develop culturally relevant resources in tobacco cessation; (2) provide training to healthcare providers (HCPs) in tobacco cessation; and (3) provide access to cost-free cessation medication. TEACH and STOP work closely with FNIM frontline workers, HCPs, and Elders (Engagement Circle) to ensure approaches to tobacco cessation are developed collaboratively and consider the system-level barriers and issues impacting FNIM peoples. TEACH and the Engagement Circle worked together to develop (1) a toolkit providing culturally relevant tobacco cessation tools and (2) an online course for healthcare providers in tobacco cessation. STOP partnered with Aboriginal Health Access Centres (AHACs) to provide counselling support and cost-free cessation medication to clients. The toolkit has reached 246 individuals. 108 HCPs completed the April 2015 online course. HCP ratings of confidence in knowledge and skills increased significantly pre- and post-training and 67% set clinical practice goals. Since 2016, 50% (n=5) of Ontario's AHACs have partnered with STOP, enrolling 395 FNIM clients. Collaborative engagement with FNIM peoples can lead to culturally relevant and safe programming. Researchers should consider participatory methods and knowledge translation frameworks in research design to ensure meaningful work with FNIM communities.