Telehealth: a new opportunity to discuss smoking cessation with indigenous cancer patients and their families.

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[Extract] Public health initiatives aimed at promoting the negative health impacts of smoking have led to decreases in smoking among non-indigenous populations; however, higher rates of smoking continue to be the leading cause of disease burden among indigenous populations throughout the developed world. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (hereafter referred to as Indigenous Australians), the situation is dire with Indigenous Australians 1.9 times more likely to die of lung cancer Rates of smoking vary within and between Indigenous communities with significantly higher rates reported for Indigenous populations (41%) compared with non-Indigenous Australians (16%). Remoteness and younger age appear to be critical risk factors for higher rates of smoking among Indigenous Australians with rates as high as 62% reported for women aged 15 to 34 years in a remote community in North Queensland and 76% among men in a community in the Northern Territory.