Impact of Family and Social Network on Tobacco Cessation Amongst Cancer Patients

Abstract

Continued smoking after a cancer diagnosis adversely affects outcomes, including recurrence of the primary cancer and/or the development of second primary cancers. Despite this, prevalence of smoking is high in cancer survivors and higher in survivors of tobacco-related cancers. The diagnosis of cancer provides a teachable moment, and social networks, such as family, friends, and social groups, seem to play a significant role in smoking habits of cancer patients. Interventions that involve members of patients’ social network, especially those who also smoke, might improve tobacco cessation rates. Very few studies have been conducted to evaluate and target patients’ social networks. Yet, many studies have demonstrated that cancer survivors who received higher levels of social support were less likely to be current smokers. Clinicians should be doing as much as they can to encourage smoking cessation in both patients and relevant family members. Research aimed at influencing smoking behavioral change in the entire family is needed to increase cessation intervention success rate, which can ultimately improve the health and longevity of patients as well as their family members.

Smoking patterns and the intention to quit in German cancer patients: a cross-sectional study

“…The importance of social support for cancer patients, especially for smoking cessation, is essential. Other studies have shown that cancer survivors who experienced higher levels of social support were less likely to become smokers [ 19 ] and cancer survivors who rated their support system as rather low were more likely to continue smoking after diagnosis [ 36 ]. As our study shows conflicting results, the question arises as to whether support can also have a negative effect, i.e.…”

“…Factors that have been shown to be associated with smoking patterns in cancer patients include several different factors such as age [ 16 ], level of education [ 17 ]; type of diagnosed tumor [ 16 ]; alcohol consumption [ 18 ], and received social support [ 19 ]. In the population of non-cancer smokers, even more associated factors were found, such as relationship [ 20 ] and having children [ 21 ].…”

Tips to Quit Smoking: Perspectives from Vietnamese Healthcare Providers, Community Leaders, and Past Tobacco Users in the United States

“…Stories from our participants demonstrated that repeated encouragement helped individuals who smoke to quit. Previous studies have confirmed that having support from healthcare providers [ 25 , 26 ], partners [ 27 ], family [ 28 ], and friends [ 28 , 29 ] increases successful smoking cessation.…”

A qualitative exploration of women's perspectives and acceptability of including new cancer awareness information in all‐clear breast or cervical screening results

“…Described as an event or circumstance that motivates an individual to take positive actions regarding their health, ‘teachable moments’ have been examined across an array of settings over the years to assess whether health events can motivate risk‐reducing behaviours. For example, HIV treatment initiation and smoking cessation (Vidrine et al, 2018 ), antenatal care visits and screening for sickle cell and thalassemia (Brown et al, 2011 ; Tsianakas et al, 2012 ), COVID‐19 crisis and lifestyle change in cardiovascular disease patients (Brust et al, 2021 ), ‘cancer worry’ and smoking cessation (McBride et al, 2008 ) and cancer screening, diagnosis, care and survivorship (Gray et al, 2021 ; Karvinen et al, 2015 ; Kathuria et al, 2020 ; McBride et al, 2017 ; Neumann et al, 2021 ).…”