Smoking cessation in patients with cancer under real life conditions

Abstract

Although smoking cessation after diagnosis of cancer improves survival and quality of life almost half cancer patients continue to smoke. In this study we analyzed smoking cessation success, using Continuous abstinence Rate (CAR) and the factors affecting cessation in cancer patients in an outpatient clinic.

Out of 1020 smokers, 83 had a history of various types of cancer.All smokers attended a 12 weeks program. CAR among cancer patients was 55.47% and in non cancer 67%. Chi-square tests show that at the 5% level of significance severe dependence and number of cigarettes are positively related with failure in smoking cessation. while sex and education were not found significant.The presence of cancer was found significant (p=0.032) with cancer patients having higher rate of failure.To better examine the significance of each factor without the influence of others and estimate its impact on cessation , we conducted logistic regression.Estimates include the odds ratios and marginal probability effects of independent variables.Inserting data of a particular patient into the model, the probability of cessation failure is obtained.The presence of cancer is not important now at 5% level but is important at p=0.076 (OR=1.52 and marginal probability effect=0.098).