ASPO Abstracts
The NCI Cancer Center Cessation Initiative: Increasing the Reach of Tobacco Treatment Programs at NCI-Designated Cancer Centers
Category: Behavioral Science & Health Communication
Conference Year: 2019
Abstract Body:
Purpose: Quitting smoking leads to better outcomes for cancer patients, yet few receivesmoking cessation services during oncology healthcare visits. The National CancerInstitute (NCI) has dedicated Cancer Moonshot funding to expand tobacco treatment programs(TTPs) at NCI-Designated Cancer Centers for patients who smoke. This study examineschanges in the TTPs before and after funding was awarded through the Cancer CenterCessation Initiative (C3I). Methods: The 22 NCI Cancer Centers funded were surveyed twicein 2018 using online questionnaires for the 6 months before funding (pre-funding) and 6months during the first year of funding. Types of TTPs offered and referral methods toTTPs (e.g. via electronic health records (EHR)) were measured. TTP reach (the percentageof smokers who engaged in any type of TTP) was calculated overall and by demographics forCenters providing aggregate data (n=13). Results: Between the pre-funding and firstfunding period, the number of C3I Centers offering in-person cessation counselingincreased from 10 to 15 (45.5% to 68.2%). Four Centers (18.2%) offered text and web basedcessation programs in the first funding year compared with only 1 Center (4.5%) in thepre-funding period. EHR referrals to TTPs increased from 31.8% to 68.2% of Centers. Duringthe funding period, TTP reach was 20.2%, but ranged from 0.5% to 86.5%. Reach varied byrace/ethnicity, with 16.4% of Black, 15.8% of White, 11.8% of Hispanic, 10.6% of Asian,and 6.2% of American Indian/Alaska Native smokers receiving smoking cessation services.About 13% of smokers aged 18-24 received services, compared with those aged 25-44 (17.7%),45-64 (22.9%) and 65+ (18.7%). Conclusion: After receiving funding, C3I Cancer Centersimplemented in-person and text/web smoking cessation programs, and also shifted towardsEHR based referrals. However, on average, only 20% of smokers were reached by a TTP duringthe first funding period. Reach also varied by race, ethnicity, and age. C3I Centers willcontinue to expand services and report on reach over the next year, with the goal ofimproving reach over time. The C3I supports this goal by providing financial and technicalsupport for Centers to build and implement comprehensive evidence-based smoking cessationprograms.
Keywords: Cancer centers,smoking cessation,tobacco treatment,cancer patients,electronic healthrecord referrals