Smoking accounts for approximately 30% of total cancer deaths each year. Even though former studies show that persons with a cancer diagnosis are less likely to smoke than the general population up to 50% of people who smoke and have lung cancer do not stop smoking after their diagnosis or frequently relapse after smoking cessation. Continued smoking leads to increased all-cause mortality, increased cancer-specific mortality, and decreased quality of life. It is well-known that cancer patients are interested in smoking cessation therefore smoking cessation interventions play an important role in the management of people with cancer. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of an intensive smoking cessation interventions on cancer patients in real life. The project provides new knowledge about smokers diagnosed with cancer.
This prospective register-based cohort study including smokers attending an intensive smoking cessation intervention (the Gold Standard Programme (GSP)) from 2006-2017 in Denmark. The GSP is a manualised, patient education programme taught by specially trained staff, including pharmacologic strategies.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
77,380
The intervention comprises 5-6 meetings during six weeks, and can be held in group or as an individual intervention. It is based on counselling and a clearly structured manual-based patient education programme taught by specially trained staff, and contains individual counselling on nicotine replacement therapy or other medical support, according to the level of dependence measured by the Fagerström test score. The first two weeks cover teaching sessions on: ambivalence and motivation, pros and cons of continuous smoking versus cessation, and a quit date is set between the 2. and 3. week. The last 3 sessions cover: risk situations, withdrawal symptoms and medical support for withdrawal symptoms, relapse prevention and how to handle a completely smoke-free life.
% of patients that are continuously smokefree
Self-reported smoking status, questionnaire completed by telephone interview
Time frame: 6 months
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.