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Risk factors for smoking among adolescent survivors of childhood cancer: A report from the childhood cancer survivor study
Author(s) -
Kahalley Lisa S.,
Robinson Leslie A.,
Tyc Vida L.,
Hudson Melissa M.,
Leisenring Wendy,
Stratton Kayla,
Mertens Ann C.,
Zeltzer Lonnie,
Robison Leslie L.,
Hinds Pamela S.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.23139
Subject(s) - medicine , childhood cancer , cancer , pediatrics , cancer survivor , pediatric cancer , oncology
Background Few studies have examined risk factors for smoking among adolescent survivors of childhood cancer. The present study reports on the rate of smoking and identifies factors associated with smoking in a sample of adolescent survivors from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS). Procedure Participants included 307 adolescent survivors and 97 healthy siblings (ages 14–20) who completed a self‐report survey of health, quality of life, and health behaviors. Results Smoking rates did not differ significantly between survivor and sibling groups (ever smokers: 28% vs. 33%, recent smokers: 10% vs. 9%, respectively). Ever smoking was significantly associated with peer smoking, smokers in the household, binging, suicidal behavior, and no history of CRT. There were significant interactions of peer smoking with gender and CRT for ever smoking and with binging for recent smoking. Recent smoking was more likely for survivors with other household smokers (RR = 2.24, CI = 1.21–4.16), past suicidality (RR = 1.89, CI = 1.00–3.56), and no CRT (RR = 2.40, CI = 1.12–5.17). Among survivors with few smoking friends, ever smoking was more likely for survivors with no CRT (RR = 4.47, CI = 1.43–13.9), and recent smoking was more likely among survivors who binged (RR = 3.37, CI = 1.17–9.71). Conclusions Despite the health risks associated with survivorship, nearly one in three adolescent survivors of childhood cancer has smoked. Exposure to other smokers, in particular, appears to increase the likelihood of smoking for some survivors. Providing smoking cessation programs targeted to family members, helping survivors choose non‐smoking friends, and teaching ways to resist smoking influences from peers may be important pathways for smoking prevention with adolescent survivors. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2012; 58: 428–434. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.