ASPO Abstracts
Formative Research to Inform Smoking Cessation Initiatives in an urban Cancer Center
Category: Survivorship & Health Outcomes/Comparative Effectiveness Research
Conference Year: 2019
Abstract Body:
Introduction: For many cancers, tobacco use is associated with increased risk for adverseoutcomes, and diagnosis and treatment can increase the salience of cessation for patientswho smoke. Although evidence-based approaches to cessation services such as the Five As(Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, and Arrange) require relatively little clinician time oreffort, many cancer centers do not consistently offer cessation services to all theirpatients. Methods: In order to plan for the development of comprehensive cessation services for allpatients treated at our cancer center, we conducted formative research with cancerpatients who identified as current smokers, as well as clinicians involved in cancer care. In-depth interviews are being conducted with a purposive sample of 10 clinicians and 25patients. Audio-recordings are being transcribed and analyzed thematically. Results: Many clinicians reported efforts to persuade patients to make quit attempts andcomplete referrals to cessation services, but felt they were relatively unsuccessful infacilitating cessation among their cancer patients. In contrast, patients who currentlysmoked reported receiving consistent counselling from their clinicians, and that thesecommunications positively influenced their quit attempts. Many patients described currentstrategies to prepare for cessation, including reducing number of cigarettes consumed, aswell as lifestyle modifications to support cessation. Patients also described variedpreferences for pharmacotherapies, counselling modalities, and interest in exploringcomplementary strategies during cessation treatment, including mindfulness, exercise, andnutrition. Conclusions: Given that many patients reported actively planning for or attempting toreduce or quit their tobacco use, clinicians should ask about and support any efforts bypatients toward cessation. Clinician education should also aim to increase understandingof the likelihood of relapse and the need for ongoing support during the cessation process.
Keywords: tobbaco controlsurvivorship