Smoking cessation among patients in a cancer clinic: evaluation of a novel, motivational stop-smoking pocket calendar.
BACKGROUND
Patients with smoking-related cancer have higher risks for recurrence if they continue to smoke.


METHODS
To encourage cancer patients to quit smoking a motivational pocket calendar with information about smoking and cancer, tips for stopping, and logs for monitoring was distributed among 32 patients, along with a baseline questionnaire.


RESULTS
After 3 months, patients completed a second questionnaire. Twenty-one patients completed both questionnaires; 5 (24%) had quit smoking. The average number of cigarettes smoked per day dropped from 25.3 at baseline to 15.8 (P = .0001).


CONCLUSIONS
A pocket calendar appears to be a useful adjunct for smoking cessation.
Nair
Bijay
B
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
Safar
Ahmed
A
Garrison
Willas
W
Sherman
Allen
A
Mehta
Paulette
P
D001294:Attitude to Health; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D017748:Time Management