Effects of a Brief Training Program for Lay Health Volunteers to Facilitate Smoking Cessation Among African Americans‪.‬

Abstract This study evaluated a training program to train lay health volunteers in facilitating smoking cessation for a low-income, African American community in a Midwest city. Fourteen volunteers completed this training. The four-hour training program applied the constructs of the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), namely self-efficacy and outcome expectations relating to the processes of behavioral change. A repeated measures design was utilized measuring participants' perceived knowledge, outcome expectations, their self-efficacy on conducting smoking cessation classes and their behavioral change in organizing and conducting smoking cessation programs. Results highlighted statistically significant changes in knowledge, outcome expectations, and self-efficacy (p [less than or equal to] 0. 05) between pre-test and post-test indicating a successful training program. However, no significance was noted for a change in behavior. Implementation and environmental issues need to be encouraged in future programs in order to effect the behavioral change and continue the success of the program.