Lung cancer screening presents a critical opportunity for smokers to quit, according to researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that smokers undergoing lung cancer screening had the best chance of quitting when they received integrated care, which includes medication and comprehensive counseling with tobacco treatment specialists.
The study, which included 630 current smokers eligible for lung cancer screening, showed that integrated care outperformed other cessation methods with a nearly two-fold improvement in the odds of quitting. Over 30% of participants who received integrated care were still abstaining from smoking after six months.
Dr. Paul Cinciripini, the principal investigator of the study, emphasized the importance of supporting smokers in quitting during lung cancer screening. He stated, “Our study demonstrates that providing access to effective medications and trained tobacco cessation specialists offers the greatest chance at successfully quitting and, hopefully, avoiding the potential of lung cancer.”
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in the U.S., with tobacco use being responsible for 85% of cases. Each year, an estimated 480,000 Americans die from tobacco-related illnesses. The study participants were recruited from Houston and were at least 50 years old, smoking a median of 20 cigarettes per day.
The participants were randomized into three groups receiving different interventions: quitline referral and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), quitline referral plus NRT or medication prescribed by a lung cancer screening clinician, or integrated care (IC) including NRT or prescription pharmacotherapy and counseling. IC had the highest quit rate at three months (37.1%) and six months (32.4%) compared to the other groups.
The study highlights the importance of facilities providing dedicated and integrated care to offer patients the best opportunity for smoking cessation and improved health outcomes. The approach of integrated care could also be effective in other healthcare settings, such as post-traumatic stress clinics and among patients with cancer, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes.
While the study had some limitations, such as a predominantly white population and lack of CO abstinence verification, the overall results showed the effectiveness of integrated care in helping smokers quit. This research provides valuable insights into the benefits of comprehensive support for smoking cessation during lung cancer screening.
For more information, you can access the study published in JAMA Internal Medicine. This important research underscores the significance of integrated care in helping smokers quit and improving their overall health outcomes.
