Patient Cessation Activity after Automatic Referral to a Dedicated Cessation Support Service. (18th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Amato, Katharine A.; Reid, Mary E.; Bansal-Travers, Maansi; Ochs-Balcom, Heather M.; Cummings, K. Michael; Mahoney, Martin; Marshall, James; Hyland, Andrew
• Is Part Of: Journal of smoking cessation. Volume 13:Number 2(2018:Jun.)
• Page Start: 78
• Page End: 86
• Publication Date: 2017-05-18
• Subjects: Smoking cessation -- Periodicals; Tobacco use -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Smoking -- Health aspects -- Periodicals; 616.86506
• DOI: 10.1017/jsc.2017.7
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1834-2612

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: We characterised tobacco use, cessation patterns, and patient satisfaction with a cessation support program at an NCI Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center following a mandatory tobacco assessment and automatic referral. Methods: A 3-month follow-up survey (via web, paper, or telephone) was administered between March 2013 and November 2013 for all patients referred to and contacted by a cessation support service, and who consented to participation three months prior to administration. Patients were asked about their perceived importance and self-efficacy to quit smoking, quit attempts, and satisfaction with the cessation service. Results: Fifty-two percent (257/499) of patients who participated in the cessation support service, and consented to be contacted again, completed a follow-up survey. Of those who participated, 9.7% were referred to the service as having recently quit tobacco (in the past 30 days) and 23.6% reported having quit at the time of first contact. At the 3-month follow-up, 48.1% reported being smoke-free for the previous seven days. When patients were asked about their experience with the cessation service, 86.4% reported being very or mostly satisfied with the service, and 64.3% reported that their experience with the service increased their satisfaction with the care received at the cancer centre. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that recently diagnosed cancer patients are aware that quitting tobacco is important, are making attempts to quit, and are amenable to an opt-out automatic referral cessation support service as part of their cancer care.