Smoking cessation in patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To determine patients' smoking status after the diagnosis and treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) and to identify factors associated with smoking cessation.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey study conducted over a 2-year period.


METHODS
Head and neck surgery clinic of an academic tertiary care hospital.


METHODS
Two hundred thirteen consecutive patients diagnosed with SCCHN were interviewed to ascertain patients' smoking status and the incidence of smoking cessation. Information on demographics, tobacco and alcohol history, disease characteristics, and treatment modality was also collected.


METHODS
The rate of smoking cessation was evaluated, in which smoking cessation is defined as the use of no cigarettes at least 1 month prior to the interview. Possible predictors of smoking cessation were evaluated.


RESULTS
One hundred twenty-five patients were found to be smoking at the time of diagnosis. Among these patients, 53.6% stopped smoking after diagnosis or during treatment. In the univariate analyses, tumour site (p = .01), concurrent alcohol use (p = .03), and number of attempts to quit pre- (p = .03) and postdiagnosis (p = .001) were found to be highly predictive of patient smoking cessation. Multivariable modelling showed that gender, tumour site, and number of attempts to quit smoking were significantly and independently related to smoking cessation.


CONCLUSIONS
Although smoking cessation would be presumed to be high after cancer diagnosis, this study has identified patient subgroups in which postdiagnosis smoking cessation intervention programs need to be made more effective.
Chan
Yvonne
Y
Department of Otolaryngology/Department of Surgical Oncology, Wharton Head and Neck Centre, Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Irish
Jonathan C
JC
Wood
Stephen J
SJ
Sommer
Doron D
DD
Brown
Dale H
DH
Gullane
Patrick J
PJ
O'Sullivan
Brian
B
Lockwood
Gina A
GA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*