Grant: Operating Grant: BHCIA: Knowledge Synthesis and Mobilization Grants - VCI

In Canada, around 200,000 women who have diabetes also smoke tobacco cigarettes. These women face a higher risk of cardiovascular events compared to men with DM. These events can harm brain health. However, by quitting smoking, women can significantly reduce this risk. In fact, a third of the extra cardiovascular risk can be eliminated just two years after quitting, and complete elimination can be achieved after ten years of not smoking. Therefore, it's crucial to support middle-aged and older women with diabetes in quitting smoking to protect their brain health and prevent cardiovascular events and related cognitive problems. Unfortunately, fewer women than men are able to quit smoking successfully. This can be attributed, in part, to gender differences in smoking motives and barriers to quitting. More women than men value smoking as a way to relieve stress, especially when facing challenging social and economic circumstances. Additionally, many women lack support from their partners, family, or friends when trying to quit. To improve the success rate of quitting among women who smoke, it is important to address motives and barriers that are related to gender. However, there is currently a shortage of smoking treatment programs that consider gender differences, especially for middle-aged and older women smokers. The goals for this project are: 1.To conduct a thorough review of the published literature to learn how to help women smokers overcome challenges in quitting related to their gender. 2.To share the findings with various stakeholders (researchers, clinicians, knowledge users, and patient partners) and agree on strategies to promote smoking cessation among women with DM that take into account gender-related barriers. 3.To use this knowledge and collaboration to create and distribute a range of informative resources like podcasts and animation videos to support women with diabetes in quitting smoking.