Is a cancer diagnosis a teachable moment for the patient's relative who smokes?

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined a cancer diagnosis, versus orthopedic surgery, as a teachable moment for recruiting smokers and treating nicotine dependence among patients' relatives. Methods: Cancer patients and, for comparison, orthopedic patients at the University of Pennsylvania Health System were approached for referrals of relatives for a smoking cessation program, which involved behavioral counseling and nicotine patches. Primary outcomes were rate of program enrollment and rate of smoking abstinence. Potential mediators of smoking cessation were explored (e.g., treatment adherence, depression, anxiety). Two hundred and thirty-four relatives (113 cancer, 121 orthopedic) were considered eligible for the cessation program and comprised the study sample. Results: Relatives of oncology patients were significantly more likely to enroll in the smoking cessation program, vs. orthopedic relatives (75 % vs. 60 %; OR = 1.96, 95 % CI 1.07-3.61, p =.03), but they were not significantly more likely to remain in the program (61 % vs. 52 %) or quit smoking (19 % vs. 26 %; p's >.05). Compared to orthopedic relatives, oncology relatives showed significantly lower nicotine patch adherence and significantly greater levels of negative affect and depression and anxiety symptoms during treatment (p's