Abstract
The present overview focuses on evidence of smoking cessation approaches in oncology settings with the aim to provide health personnel a critical perspective on how to help their patients. This narrative review is structured in two main sections: the first one describes the psycho-cognitive variables involved in the decision to continue smoking after a cancer diagnosis and during the treatment; the second section relates methods and tools may be recommended, being evidence-based, to support smoking cessation in oncology settings. Active smoking increases not only susceptibility to common cancers in the general population, but also increases disease severity and comorbidities in cancer patients. Nowadays, scientific evidence has identified many strategies to give up smoking, but a lack of knowledge exists for treatment of nicotine dependence in the cancer population. Health personnel is often ambiguous when approaching the problem, while their contribution is essential in guiding patients towards healthier choices. We argue that smoking treatments for cancer patients deserve more attention and that clinical features, individual characteristics and needs of the patient should be assessed in order to increase the attempts success rate. Health personnel that daily work and interact with cancer patients and their caregivers have a fundamental role in the promotion of the health changing. For this reason, it is important that they have adequate knowledge and resources in order to support cancer patients to stop tobacco cigarette smoking and promoting and healthier lifestyle.
Highlights
Tobacco cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the world
Data showed that 23–35 % of head and neck cancer patients, and 13–20 % of lung cancer patients who were smoking before their diagnosis, continued to smoke after the diagnosis and during treatment itself (Nayan et al 2011), while de Bruin-Visser et al (2012) reported that 35–72 % of head and neck cancer patients’ smoke despite the diagnosis
We offer some suggestions for health professionals to overcome roadblocks and to improve the smoking cessation success rate in cancer patients. This narrative review is structured in two main sections: the first one describes the psycho-cognitive variables involved in the decision to continue smoking after a cancer diagnosis and during the treatment; the second section relates methods and tools may be recommended, being evidence-based, to support smoking cessation in oncology settings
Summary
Tobacco cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the world. In 2011 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that smoking caused six million deaths annually, and in 2030 it will kill eight million people each year (WHO 2011). We offer some suggestions for health professionals to overcome roadblocks and to improve the smoking cessation success rate in cancer patients Method This narrative review is structured in two main sections: the first one describes the psycho-cognitive variables involved in the decision to continue smoking after a cancer diagnosis and during the treatment; the second section relates methods and tools may be recommended, being evidence-based, to support smoking cessation in oncology settings. A retrospective study by Garces et al (2004) showed that a combination of NRT and other behavioral and pharmacological treatment is as effective in head and neck cancer patients as in the general population.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: 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.
