Abstract B011: Proof-of-concept for the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of a workplace intervention to mitigate tobacco-related cancer disparities in a LGBTQ+-serving healthcare center

Abstract Introduction: Tobacco use is disproportionately high among LGBTQ+ individuals and not consistently addressed in healthcare encounters; consequently, tobacco-related cancers are elevated in this group relative to their heterosexual/cisgender counterparts. Project ACTION (Alliances to Combat Tobacco In Organizations Now) is a comprehensive tobacco-free workplace program tailored for LGBTQ+-focused healthcare centers. Integrating policy development, education, and tobacco cessation services, the program is delivered through implementation strategies (e.g., guidance, tools, resources) to enhance provider knowledge and confidence in addressing LGBTQ+ patients’ tobacco use and, ultimately, help reduce their tobacco-related health inequities. Here, we assess key preconditions for the uptake and penetration of Project ACTION among providers at a center serving the medical/behavioral healthcare needs of 4,883 LGBTQ+ individuals annually in Houston, TX. Methods: As part of Project ACTION, providers (N=65 of 92) completed a pre-implementation e-survey assessing their tobacco-related beliefs, knowledge, self-efficacy, and intervention practices. These items were examined relative to their responses to the Acceptability of Intervention (AIM), Intervention Appropriateness (IAM), and Feasibility of Intervention (FIM) Measures (i.e., pre-conditions for implementation success) using ANOVAs. Results: Overall, 83% of providers were concerned about their patients’ tobacco use but only 29% believed that their patients wanted to quit. About 34% of providers reported past-year education on how to treat tobacco concurrently with medical/behavioral health needs and 51% reported understanding LGBTQ+-specific psychological/cultural underpinnings of tobacco use. About 69% of providers routinely asked patients about tobacco use, and 51% routinely assisted users to quit through direct care provision or referrals; however, only 38% felt confident doing so. Providers’ endorsement of items was associated with (ps<.05) higher scores on the AIM, IAM, and FIM as follows: concern about patients’ tobacco use (AIM/IAM/FIM), past-year education on how to treat tobacco concurrently with other needs (AIM/IAM/FIM), knowledge of tobacco use underpinnings (AIM/IAM/FIM), as well as routine tobacco use intervention (AIM) and associated self-efficacy (AIM/IAM/FIM). Overall, providers rated Project ACTION as acceptable, appropriate, and feasible (all Ms=4.3/5). Conclusion: Pre-conditions for successful implementation were positively associated with Project ACTION’s targeted constructs like providers’ tobacco-related beliefs, knowledge, self-efficacy, and intervention practices, suggesting the program’s fit to the setting. Information gleaned will guide implementation rollout via strategies to enhance buy-in while building providers’ confidence and skills to achieve a sustainable center-level community of practice for tobacco screening and intervention to reduce LGBTQ+ tobacco-related cancer disparities. Lessons learned from implementation and applicability to other settings will be discussed. Citation Format: Jedidiah A. Feyisetan, Maggie Britton, Isabel M. Leal, Tzuan A. Chen, Asfand B. Moosa, Jennifer Cofer, Mikal G. Zere, Marcy Zere, Julie Neisler, Lorraine R. Reitzel. Proof-of-concept for the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of a workplace intervention to mitigate tobacco-related cancer disparities in a LGBTQ+-serving healthcare center [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 18th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities; 2025 Sep 18-21; Baltimore, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B011.