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SMOKING CESSATION IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING TREATMENT FOR HEAD AND NECK CANCER
Author(s) -
Rajpal K.,
Mackin C. A.,
Tan S. T.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
anz journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.426
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 1445-1433
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2009.04919_7.x
Subject(s) - medicine , smoking cessation , head and neck cancer , abstinence , head and neck , cancer , risk factor , pediatrics , surgery , psychiatry , pathology
Aim: Advice on smoking cessation is part of our overall management for head and neck cancer patients. This study determined the effectiveness of smoking cessation strategy, contributing factors, and long‐term abstinence in these patients. Method: Consecutive patients who smoked at the time of diagnosis were culled from our head and neck database. Demographic data, diagnosis and tumour location were recorded. The patients were sent a questionnaire to document their smoking habits, factors that influenced cessation and the interval of abstinence. A follow‐up telephone interview was conducted for non‐responders. Results: 57 of the 116 patients had deceased. 59 with cancers in the oral cavity (n = 31), oropharynx (n = 5), paranasal sinus (n = 3), bone (n = 4), salivary gland (n = 7), skin (n = 7), and neck metastasis with unknown primary (n = 1). Of the 50 (85%) responders 37 (74%) stopped smoking, with 27 (75%) doing so around the time of diagnosis and treatment. The most influential factor for quitting smoking were the diagnosis of cancer (n = 20), hospitalisation (n = 14), medical (n = 13) and family (n = 8) advice, Quit Line (n = 2) and nicotine replacement therapy (n = 1). The latter 2 factors were ranked 6 and 5 times respectively as the least important factor. Of the 18 (49%) who quitted and restarted smoking, 5 (28%) did so within one month, 7 (39%) 1–12 months, 2 (11%) 1–5 years, and 4 (22%) at unknown interval. Conclusion: Most patients undergoing treatment of head and neck cancer quitted smoking in response to a personal “crisis”, reinforced by the non‐smoking hospital environment and consistent medical and family advice. Strategies are needed for the high rate of restarting smoking for successful quitters.