Approaches to tobacco control & lung cancer screening among physician assistants.
BACKGROUND
This study explores physicians' assistants' (PA) knowledge and practice regarding tobacco cessation counseling, approaches to lung cancer early detection and management of patients at high risk of developing lung cancer.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey design was used to examine approaches to tobacco use prevention and the early detection of lung cancer among PAs from Western New York State.


RESULTS
PAs report promoting use of the nicotine patch, nicotine spray and bupropion when counseling smokers on cessation. Reported management strategies for a patient at high risk of developing lung cancer were not supported by current literature.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest the need for professional educational programs aimed not only at conveying the continued importance of tobacco cessation counseling, but also information on the appropriate management options for patients at increased risk of developing lung cancer.
Lawvere
Silvana
S
Division of Population Sciences, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA. silvana.lawvere@roswellpark.org
Mahoney
Martin C
MC
Englert
Jessica
J
Murphy
Jill
J
Hyland
Andrew
A
Loewen
Greg
G
Mirand
Amy
A
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003376:Counseling; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D012307:Risk Factors; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires