A SMOKING CESSATION INTERVENTION WITH HOSPITALIZED SURGICAL CANCER-PATIENTS - A PILOT-STUDY

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effect of a structu red smoking cessation intervention during hospitalization on short-ter m smoking abstinence. Hospitalized surgical oncology patients who smok ed (n = 26) and were diagnosed with cancer were randomly assigned to e ither an experimental or control group. Experimental group subjects (n = 12) received a structured smoking cessation intervention during hos pitalization followed by five weekly phone calls after discharge. Cont rol group subjects (n = 14) received usual care from their health-care providers during hospitalization. Abstinence from smoking, as determi ned by saliva cotinine, the primary metabolite of nicotine, was measur ed at first postdischarge visit. Subjects with a saliva continine leve l of <10 ng/ml were classified as abstinent. At first postdischarge vi sit, 75% of experimental group subjects were abstinent compared with 4 2.9% in the usual care group, a 32% difference. These preliminary find ings will assist in the design and further evaluation of cancer rehabi litation strategies promoting cessation in hospitalized postoperative cancer patients who continue to smoke.