Smoking behavior among underserved populations, Smoking cessation programs for smoker couples
Smoking behavior among underserved populations, Smoking cessation programs for smoker couples
Smoking remains the leading cause of death globally. Despite a significant decrease in smoking prevalence in the general population over the past 50 years, there are sub-populations that do not benefit from smoking cessation programs, resulting in health disparities among underserved populations. The ultimate goal of my research is to reduce health disparities by promoting smoking cessation among underserved populations.
Program of Research
Dr. Seung Hee Choi’s research has focused on the effects of engaging in multiple health behaviors, where individuals participate in two or more health risk behaviors simultaneously. Specifically, Dr. Choi has examined the impact of smoking-involved multiple health behaviors on health outcomes and health-related quality of life. Engaging in multiple health behaviors has been associated with a higher risk of developing chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases or cancers, and increased all-cause mortality. Notably, when smoking is involved in multiple health behaviors, mortality risks are even higher than those associated with other risk behaviors.
More recently, Dr. Seung Hee Choi has focused on smoker couples, where at least one partner smokes. She conducted several survey studies with smoker couples to examine couple dynamics associated with smoking behavior and preferences for couple-based smoking cessation interventions. Based on the findings from these survey studies, Dr. Choi and her team developed a web app for smoking cessation, WeQuit, tailored to smoker couples. The WeQuit app is currently undergoing pilot testing. Dr. Choi’s long-term goal is to promote smoking cessation and health by advancing smoking cessation interventions specifically designed for underserved smokers, including smoker couples.
Current Research
- 2024-25, Choi, SH. (PI) – WeQuit: An automated, tailored web app for smoker couples. Funded by: STT Lambda Chapter
- 2024-25, Choi, SH. (PI) – Impact of frequency of distributing gift cards on engagement of a web-app for smoking cessation. Funded by: Harriet H. Werley Faculty award
- 2024-25, Choi, SH. (PI) - WeQuit: A pilot trial of a tailored web app for smoker couples. Funded by: University Research Grant
Populations of interests
- Smoker couples
- Blue collar workers
- Cancer patients