Smoking cessation after cancer diagnosis: Relationships matter.

Abstract

e24039 Background: Continued smoking after a cancer diagnosis leads to worse morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, smoking prevalence remains high amongst cancer patients and survivors. Few studies have been conducted to evaluate and target patients’ social networks that may contribute to a patient continuing to smoke. We developed a questionnaire intended to assess patients’ smoking status, motivation to quit, patient/family dynamics, and interest in enrolling in a smoking cessation program that includes the patient and the person closest to them in their social network that may be contributing to their continued smoking. Methods: We designed a three-page questionnaire to gain more information about a patient’s past and current smoking history, level of nicotine dependence, assessment of their motivation to quit smoking, their social network and family/friends who may be smoking, and willingness of the patient and close family to quit. Inclusion criteria included patients who have been diagnosed with any solid tumor malignancy and had a history of smoking or recently quit. Non-smokers were excluded. IRB approval was obtained and questionnaires were distributed to patients when checking in at the front desk of the Monter Cancer Center. 32 questionnaires were collected from July 2021 - January 2022. Results: Of the questionnaires completed, 59% quit smoking after their cancer diagnosis, 34% tried and were unable, and 7% did not try or declined to answer. Of the 59% who quit, 52% were married, compared to 45% of the 34% who tried and were unable to quit. The odds of quitting among people who were married was 1.56 (95% CI 0.36 - 6.69; p-value 0.55) times the odds of quitting among people who were not married. In the quit group, 53% lived with a smoker at some point compared with 75% of those in the quit but unable to group. The odds of quitting among people who lived with a smoker was 0.42 (95% CI 0.08 - 2.07; p-value 0.28) times the odds of quitting among people who did not live with a smoker. Five social network members quit after their relatives’ cancer diagnosis. No patients were currently enrolled in a tobacco cessation program. Two people answered they would be interested in being enrolled in a tobacco cessation program with a close family member that also smokes. Conclusions: Our study highlights high rates of continued smoking amongst cancer patients. Being diagnosed with cancer can serve as a teachable moment and motivate patients to quit smoking. Social network plays an important role in tobacco cessation. Our study showed that the odds of quitting was lower in patients who lived with smokers than those who did not, though not statistically significant likely due to small sample size. None of the active smokers were enrolled in a smoking cessation program highlighting the imminent need for innovative smoking cessation platforms that are engaging and effective in improving quit rates amongst cancer patients.