Lung cancer screening presents a critical opportunity for smokers to quit, according to a study conducted by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, found that smokers undergoing lung cancer screening had the best chance of quitting if they received integrated care, which includes medication and comprehensive counseling with tobacco treatment specialists.
The randomized clinical trial included 630 current smokers eligible for lung cancer screening. Participants were divided into three groups: a quitline referral and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), a quitline referral plus NRT or medication prescribed by a lung cancer screening clinician, or integrated care (IC) which included NRT or prescription pharmacotherapy and counseling provided by a team of tobacco treatment specialists and physicians.
Results 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. The study demonstrated that providing access to effective medications and trained tobacco cessation specialists offers the greatest chance at successfully quitting and potentially avoiding the risk of lung cancer.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in the U.S., with tobacco use responsible for 85% of lung cancer cases. The average smoker makes several attempts to quit before successfully beating the addiction. MD Anderson’s Tobacco Research and Treatment Program aims to support smokers in quitting and conducts research to address knowledge gaps among health care providers treating tobacco addiction.
Limitations of the study included a predominantly white population and lack of CO abstinence verification due to COVID restrictions. However, overall results showed the effectiveness of integrated care in smoking cessation.
Facilities equipped to provide dedicated and integrated care should prioritize this approach to offer patients the best opportunity for smoking cessation and improved health outcomes. This approach could also be effective in other environments such as post-traumatic stress clinics and among patients with cancer, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes.
For more information, the study can be accessed in JAMA Internal Medicine. The research was conducted by the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
