title: The effect of smoking on health-related quality of life in lung cancer patients: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Given poor survival rates for lung cancer, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is very important. Smoking is prevalent among those diagnosed with lung cancer, and continued smoking is associated with compromised HRQoL in other patient groups.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A systematic review was conducted to determine: (i) differences in HRQoL between lung cancer patients who smoke compared with those who quit or never smoked and (ii) changes in HRQoL in patients who continue to smoke after diagnosis compared with those who quit or never smoked.
  
  
  METHODS
  Scopus, Medline, PubMed, PsychINFO and Web of Knowledge from January 1995 to June 2010 were searched. The included studies were assessed and given a score for quality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Four studies showed that lung cancer patients who smoked report impaired HRQoL compared with those who never smoked or had quit. Smokers reported significantly lower HRQoL than former smokers, who in turn reported lower HRQoL than never smokers. This finding remained consistent over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When taking account of methodological quality, smoking is associated with poorer HRQoL in lung cancer patients. These results suggest that programmes are needed to address the specific support needs of this group and promote HRQoL during their final months. Longitudinal research is necessary to further understand the association between smoking and HRQoL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rowland
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eiser
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Danson
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*