title: Helping cancer patients quit smoking by increasing their risk perception: a study protocol of a cluster randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite smoking cessation can largely improve cancer prognosis and quality of life, many patients continued smoking after the diagnosis of cancer. This study aims to test the effectiveness of a smoking cessation intervention using risk communication approach to help cancer patients quit smoking, and to improve their health related quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cluster randomized controlled trial will be employed. Cancer patients who continued smoking after the diagnosis of cancer and have medical follow-up at the out-patient clinics of the five acute hospitals in Hong Kong will be invited to participate. Subjects in the experimental group will receive (1) health warnings of smoking based on a special designed leaflet; and (2) a patient-centred counseling from nurse counselors with emphasis on risk perceptions of smoking to cancer prognosis. Additionally, they will receive two more telephone counseling at 1-week and 1-month. Control group receive standard care and a generic self-help smoking cessation booklet. Outcomes measure include (a) self-reported and the biochemically validated quit rate, (b) patient's smoking reduction by at least 50% compared to baseline, (c) quit attempt(s), (d) change in the intention to quit, (e) change in risk perceptions of smoking, and (f) change in health related quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study will make an important contribution to evidence-based practice by testing the effectiveness of a tailored smoking cessation intervention for cancer patients. The results will support the development of clinical practice guidelines to promote smoking cessation in cancer patients to improve their prognosis and quality of life.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01685723. Registered 9 November 2012.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, 4/F, William MW Mong Block, No 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. william3@hku.hk.
authors.forename: William H C
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, 4/F, William MW Mong Block, No 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. nssophia@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Sophia S C
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, 4/F, William MW Mong Block, No 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. mpwang@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Kelvin M P
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, 5/F, William MW Mong Block, No 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. hrmrlth@hku.hk.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*