Tobacco use and Smoking among patients undergoing treatment of Cancer

Introduction: It is estimated that 46-75% individuals has tobacco-smoking history at the time of diagnosis of cancer and 14% - 58% continue to smoke even after the initiation of their treatment. The current study is done in a tertiary care hospital to find out the continuation of tobacco use among patients post diagnosis of cancer. The objectives were to assess current tobacco use among cancer patients after diagnosis and after initiation of treatment, to assess awareness about the available tobacco cessation treatments and types of facilities for treatment and exposure to passive tobacco-smoking. Methods: The study was conducted in adult patients suffering from cancer, admitted in a tertiary care hospital for treatment. It was a quantitative approach cross-sectional survey design. Total enumeration sampling method was used for enrolling the patients. Tools: a questionnaire containing five items was used to assess the history of tobacco use, continuation of tobacco use after diagnosis, continuation of tobacco use after initiation of cancer treatment, awareness about the treatment services available for tobacco de-addiction and exposure to passive smoking. Written informed consent was taken from patients and their family care giver. Results: The mean age of 102 study patients was 46.18 years. Sixty percent of study patients were male and 40% were female. Fifty three percent of study patients were using tobacco in past it includes both smoke and smokeless tobacco, among the tobacco users (n=52), 81% of study patients stopped tobacco use after diagnosis of cancer. A total of fifty three percentage of study patients were currently using tobacco. Forty percent of Study patients did not have any knowledge about available medical treatment for tobacco cessation. Forty two percent of study patients reported that they were exposed daily to passive smoking. Conclusion: Despite enormous gains from tobacco cessation, very few persons give up tobacco use spontaneously, and that is also due to illness factor. Therefore it is the responsibility of the health professionals to guide the patients for enrolling into the tobacco cessation program at the earliest after the diagnosis of cancer.