WCLC 2018: Smoking Cessation Services During Lung Cancer Screening
Posted: Friday, October 12, 2018
Current smokers exhibited a high acceptance rate of smoking cessation services included in lung cancer screening, according to a study by William K. Evans, MD, of Cancer Care Ontario, and colleagues. In fact, 93% of survey respondents reported being satisfied with the smoking cessation counseling they received. These research findings were presented at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 19th World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) in Toronto (Abstract OA09.02).
“It is important to seize the opportunity to discuss smoking cessation with those attending a screening program,” said Dr. Evans in an IASLC press release. “The motivation of the individuals coming in for screening, combined with the approaches taken by the nurse navigator, has made the program successful. By taking an empathetic approach, we’ve been able to help current smokers get the resources they need to help with their addiction to nicotine.”
The study offered lung cancer screening to eligible patients at three branches of Cancer Care Ontario. Smoking cessation services were embedded within the screening in an opt-out approach and offered to current smokers during their baseline low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) session. Smoking cessation services were hospital-based and included behavioral counseling, pharmacotherapy, and follow-up visits.
Of 1,241 people assessed for the study, 808 participants were eligible for screening, 63% of whom identified as current smokers. Current smokers made up 12% of those not eligible for screening. A total of 89% of all screen-eligible current smokers and 88% of those who underwent LDCT attended hospital-based cessation services. Of total current smokers, regardless of eligibility, 83% accepted a referral to cessation counseling.
In a participant satisfaction survey completed after the screening appointment, 93% of respondents reported being satisfied with the cessation services they received. The survey had a 56% response rate.
