Abstract
Most head and neck cancers are associated with smoking and alcohol exposure. Smoking and alcohol cessation (ASC) is associated with improved quality of life, cancer therapy efficacy, decreased treatment-related and cardiovascular risks, and is expected to decrease the risk of second primary tumor. It is therefore a high priority in the plan of care. However, results of current ASC programs are disappointing and understanding the reasons of this is critical. We started a qualitative study in 6 academic centers including 3 university hospitals, one regional hospital and one comprehensive cancer center. We first interviewed surgeons and care givers involved in the management of head and neck cancers. Poor communication between stakeholders, absence of alignment of care goals between patients, surgeons and other caregivers, and low level of understanding by patients of the benefits of ASC were felt to represent frequent obstacles to successful outcome. More work is ongoing within the context of our IHNPACT umbrella protocol to identify hurdles associated with successful ASC.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.