117 Background: Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of premature death in the United States and has a causal link to various cancer types. Continued tobacco use after a cancer diagnosis may decrease survival, reduce treatment efficacy, prolong/increase treatment toxicity, and increase the risk for recurrence. The combination of support from trained professionals and appropriate medications increases the chances of quitting successfully. In the literature, the advice of a physician improves quit rates to about 10% and the combination of tobacco cessation medication and behavioral support can increase the rate to 20-35%. There is a lack of data on the impact of a tobacco cessation program integrated into a cancer center. The objective of this project is to implement and prospectively evaluate a tobacco cessation program in a hospital-based outpatient cancer center across three treatment sites. Methods: A multidisciplinary group at the cancer center was established to oversee the development and implementation of the program including: pharmacist training to become a certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist, electronic medical record documentation tool establishment, and development of patient education tools. The pharmacist provided one-on-one counseling for each referred patient. Assessment of the 3, 6, and 12 month quit rates was performed. Results: The tobacco cessation program at the cancer center has been available for approximately one year to all patients and their family members. Of the 67 patients referred to the tobacco cessation program, 27 (40%) patients followed through with the referral and met with the tobacco treatment specialist. The 3, 6, and 12 month quit rates are 68%, 50%, and 50%, respectively. Conclusions: The tobacco cessation program at the cancer center is evolving into a successful program. The quit rates of the program have exceeded those reported in the literature. The accessibility of the tobacco cessation program has enhanced the comprehensive care provided to the patients at the cancer center.
Development of a state wide tobacco treatment specialist training and certification programme for Massachusetts