The Wiidookowishin program: results from a qualitative process evaluation of a culturally tailored commercial tobacco cessation program.

Commercial tobacco use rates remain disproportionately high among American Indians (AIs). Tailored cessation programs such as the Wiidookowishin (Help Me) program implemented at the Fond du Lac Reservation in Minnesota have demonstrated that such programs can be successful and achieve quit rates similar to mainstream programs. This paper presents findings from a qualitative process evaluation of the Wiidookowishin program and discusses elements that underlie its success at recruiting and enrolling participants, including individualization, flexibility, accessibility, ongoing outreach, and inclusion of traditional tobacco teachings. Lessons learned can be applied to the development of tailored programs to reduce tobacco-related disparities among AIs.