Background Smoking tobacco poses a serious risk of early preventable death and disease for women living with socioeconomic disadvantage (SED). A smoking cessation programme ‘We Can Quit’ (WCQ) tailored to women living in four SED areas developed in Ireland included group support delivered by trained lay local women and free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). The intervention was pilot tested in a community-based, cluster randomised controlled trial, ‘We Can Quit 2’. Results of an embedded process evaluation to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the programme and trial processes are presented.

Methods The design was qualitative using the Medical Research Council’s (MRC) process evaluation framework. Semi-structured interviews with trial participants (N=18) and Community Facilitators (CFs) who delivered WCQ (N=8) were conducted. An inductive approach was used and data were analysed using thematic coding.

Results Peer-modelling, a non-judgemental environment, and CFs supportive role were viewed as facilitative elements of group support. Potential for broader message diffusion into the social networks of participating women was observed. Participants reported that free access to NRT was helpful for cessation. Some participants expressed concerns about NRT side effects. Community pharmacists provided important guidance relating to NRT and additional support between group sessions. Provision of saliva samples proved challenging. Low literacy was a barrier to engagement with the programme and to completion of trial-related materials.

Conclusion A group-based stop-smoking programme including free NRT was acceptable & feasible to programme deliverers and to women smokers living in SED communities. Low literacy was a barrier to engagement.