Tobacco Use and Tobacco Treatment Referral Response of Patients With Cancer: Implementation Outcomes at a National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center

Jessica L. Burris, Tia N. Borger, Brent J. Shelton, Audrey K. Darville, Jamie L. Studts, Joseph Valentino, Courtney Blair, D. Bront Davis, Joan Scales

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Smoking after a cancer diagnosis is linked to cancer-specific and all-cause mortality, among other adverse outcomes. Yet, 10%-20% of US cancer survivors are current smokers. Implementation of evidencebased tobacco treatment in cancer care facilities is widely recommended, yet rarely accomplished. This study focuses on the early outcomes of a population-based tobacco treatment program integrated within an National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center. Methods and Materials: The sample consists of 26,365 patients seen at the cancer center during the first 18 months of program implementation. The study is a retrospective chart review of patients' tobacco use and, among current users, patients' treatment referral response. Results: More than 99% of patients were screened for tobacco use. Current (past month) use was observed in 21.05% of patients; cigarettes were the most popular product. Only 17.22% of current users accepted a referral for tobacco treatment; among current users who declined, the majority were not ready to quit (65.84%) or wanted to quit on their own (27.01%). Multiple demographic variables were associated with tobacco use and treatment referral response outcomes. Conclusion: Despite cancer diagnosis presenting a teachable moment for tobacco cessation, patients with cancer may not be ready to quit or engage with treatment. Clinically proven strategies to increase motivation, prompt quit attempts, and encourage treatment use should be key components of tobacco treatment delivery to patients with cancer.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)E261-E269
JournalJCO Oncology Practice
Volume18
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Funding

Supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Grants No. P30 CA177558 (Cancer Research Informatics Shared Resource Facility and Patient Oriented and Population Sciences Shared Resource Facility), P30 CA177558-05S5, and K07 CA181351 and the National Institute of Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under Grant No. T32 DA035200. Supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Grants No. P30 CA177558 (Cancer Research Informatics Shared Resource Facility and Patient Oriented and Population Sciences

FundersFunder number
National Institutes of Health (NIH)P30 CA177558
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Institute on Drug AbuseT32 DA035200
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Childhood Cancer Registry – National Cancer InstituteK07CA181351
National Childhood Cancer Registry – National Cancer Institute

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Oncology
    • Health Policy
    • Oncology(nursing)

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