Pivoting the Provision of Smoking Cessation Education in a Virtual Clinical World: The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Experience.

Naa Kwarley Quartey,Meredith Elana Giuliani,Ben Umakanthan,Janet Papadakos

doi:10.3390/curroncol28060449

Naa Kwarley Quartey, Meredith Elana Giuliani + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol28060449

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Abstract

Continued smoking after a cancer diagnosis may be attributed to misbeliefs by both patients and healthcare providers on the value and benefit of quitting smoking on treatment outcomes. The perceived myths and misconceptions about the relationship between smoking and cancer may be readily dispelled with the provision of practical and pertinent education. However, busy clinics as well as the rapid move to virtual care due to the COVID-19 pandemic present several challenges with the provision of smoking cessation education. Here, we describe how the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre implemented innovative solutions to improve the delivery of education during the COVID-19 pandemic to better support patients and healthcare providers.

Highlights

IntroductionPatients should be made aware of the harms of continued smoking and be provided with resources to support smoking cessation
To a substantial degree, continued smoking is attributed to misbeliefs among patients and healthcare providers about the value of quitting after a cancer diagnosis
Comprehensive tobacco cessation programs, such as the one implemented at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, consist of three key elements that provide numerous opportunities for the dissemination of information and education to patients: (1) ASK: ensure all newly diagnosed cancer patients are asked about their smoking status within 6 months of their diagnosis, (2) ADVISE: provide patients with tailored educational information on the benefits of quitting smoking before and during treatment and (3) ACT: refer patients to internal or external cessation services for support [10,11]

Summary

Introduction

Patients should be made aware of the harms of continued smoking and be provided with resources to support smoking cessation It is the responsibility of cancer centres to meet the needs of patients by providing them with access to actionable and understandable health information [9] and to direct them to services for continued counselling. Comprehensive tobacco cessation programs, such as the one implemented at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, consist of three key elements that provide numerous opportunities for the dissemination of information and education to patients: (1) ASK: ensure all newly diagnosed cancer patients are asked about their smoking status within 6 months of their diagnosis, (2) ADVISE: provide patients with tailored educational information on the benefits of quitting smoking before and during treatment and (3) ACT: refer patients to internal or external cessation services for support [10,11]. This paper describes the landscape of educational requirements for patients with cancer who smoke, and reflects on the challenges, opportunities, and innovative solutions for the provision of education, many of which were implemented because of the COVID19 pandemic

Landscape of Educational Requirements for Smoking Cessation among

Challenges and Opportunities Presented by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Conclusions