Iris Bronsema, Luc van Lonkhuijzen*, Peter Scholten, J.J. Laan, H. Westerveld* and Lukas J.A. Stalpers
Objective: Continuation of smoking after a cancer diagnosis increases the burdensome side effects from cancer treatment, and decreases the chances of cure. Smoking cessation may improve oncological outcomes in cancer patients. This study aims to evaluate if radiation oncologists can be motivated by a smoking cessation awareness intervention to discuss smoking habits more frequently and increase the referral rate for smoking cessation-support.
Study design and setting: A multifaceted approach was used to improve awareness: First, current practice wasevaluated by a retrospective chart review of 282 patients referred for radiotherapy to ascertain smoking status,discussion of smoking cessation support and referral rates. Secondly, radiation oncologists were interviewed about
their motives and barriers to discuss smoking habits and smoking cessation support. The results were fed back ina teaching lecture to the doctors involved. Finally, the effect of this smoking cessation awareness intervention wasprospectively evaluated in 100 patients.
Results: After the smoking cessation awareness intervention, smoking cessation was more frequently discussedcompared to baseline (77% (10/13)) and 39.5% (17/43) respectively. The referral rate for smoking cessation increasedfrom 2.3% (1/43) to 69.2% (9/13).
Conclusion: Without an active smoking prevention awareness policy, referral for smoking cessation support forcancer patients by radiation oncologists is low. A relatively short and simple smoking awareness intervention for radiation oncologist may result in a more frequent discussion with patients about smoking cessation and an even
larger increase in referrals for smoking cessation support.
Published Date: 2023-08-29; Received Date: 2023-08-01
