PROMOTING TOBACCO CESSATION AMONG CANCER PATIENTS: SURVEYING US ONCOLOGY PROVIDERS

Audience: The primary audience is tobacco treatment specialists, health educators, health providers or other professionals that work with cancer patients. Researchers, health care administrators, or patient advocates working with cessation among chronically ill patients will also find this relevant.

Key Points: Tobacco use following cancer diagnosis has negative implications for treatment; however, many patients continue to use tobacco. Oncologists have a pivotal role in promoting cessation among cancer patients throughout treatment. This study assessed knowledge, readiness, and willingness to promote tobacco cessation counseling among a national sample of licensed practicing US Oncologists. A survey was administered in July 2011 via e-mail (N=3,006) and US postal mail (N=1,000). Response rates were: 0.6% e-mail (N=19); 9.6% postal mail (N=96); 2.9% overall response rate (N=115). Findings suggest oncology providers are asking, documenting use, and counseling patients who use tobacco during treatment, but not frequently providing quitline information or following the 5A’s model. On a 0-10 scale, providers indicated they were comfortable providing cessation counseling [mean=7.0; SD=2.4]; however, they were less willing to participate in tobacco cessation training for assisting patients with quitting [mean=5.2; SD=3.4].

Educational Experience: The audience will learn key points from observing the poster presented graphically to convey study findings among a national sample of oncologists, with opinions and practices related to tobacco cessation among cancer patients.

Benefits: Education targeting providers can increase knowledge and practices related to the 5A’s treatment model and promote quitline and self-help information for patients. Effective strategies to increase provider willingness to attend tobacco treatment training sessions should be encouraged.