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. 2025 Aug 8:28:e250046.
doi: 10.1590/1980-549720250046. eCollection 2025.

Perspectives on smoking cessation in the oncology environment: insights from brazilian patients and healthcare providers

Raquel Descie Veraldi Leite  1 , Ricardo Ribeiro Gama  1 , Fabiana de Lima Vazquez  1 , Gabriela Beltrami Massarão  1 , Raiany Carvalho  1 , Renan de Jesus Teixeira  1 , Vinicius de Lima Vazquez  1 , Irene Tami-Maury  2
Affiliations

Perspectives on smoking cessation in the oncology environment: insights from brazilian patients and healthcare providers

Raquel Descie Veraldi Leite et al. Rev Bras Epidemiol. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify barriers and facilitators to smoking cessation among Brazilian cancer patients, considering the perspectives of both patients and healthcare professionals at a leading oncology center in the country.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, collecting smoking-related data from two groups: cancer patients and healthcare professionals at the Barretos Cancer Hospital (BCH) between 2019 and 2021. The questionnaire for healthcare professionals was adapted from the 2012 International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer and the Global Adult Tobacco Survey. For the cancer patient group, sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, along with the smoking history and consumption patterns of current smokers.

Results: Among oncology patients, the prevalence of former smokers was found to be 37.4%, while current smokers accounted for 16.8%. Most current smokers exhibited low nicotine dependence and high motivation to quit. Key barriers reported by healthcare professionals in providing smoking cessation interventions included patient resistance (86.9%) and lack of training (64.5%). Furthermore, 52.9% of these professionals indicated that they had never discussed cessation strategies during consultations with smoking patients. Regression models revealed that physicians, compared to other professionals, were more likely to address, advise, and offer cessation treatment to smoking patients (p≤0.05).

Conclusion: There is a need to enhance training on smoking cessation for healthcare professionals to improve clinical outcomes and survival rates among cancer patients.

Objetivo:: Identificar barreiras e facilitadores para a cessação do tabagismo entre pacientes oncológicos brasileiros, considerando as perspectivas dos pacientes e dos profissionais de saúde em um centro de referência em tratamento oncológico no país.

Métodos:: Estudo transversal que coletou dados sobre tabagismo de dois grupos, pacientes com câncer e profissionais de saúde, do Hospital de Câncer de Barretos (HCB), durante o período de 2019 a 2021. O questionário aplicado ao grupo de profissionais de saúde foi adaptado da International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer de 2012 e do Global Adult Tobacco Survey. Para o grupo de pacientes oncológicos, foram coletados dados sociodemográficos e clínicos, além do histórico e padrões de consumo de tabaco dos pacientes fumantes.

Resultados:: Foi observada prevalência de 37,4% de ex-fumantes e 16,8% de fumantes atuais entre os pacientes oncológicos. A maioria dos fumantes atuais apresentou baixa dependência de nicotina e alta motivação para a cessação. As principais barreiras relatadas pelos profissionais de saúde para a oferta de intervenções antitabagistas incluíram resistência dos pacientes (86,9%) e falta de treinamento (64,5%). Além disso, 52,9% desses profissionais nunca discutiram estratégias de cessação durante as consultas com pacientes fumantes. Os modelos de regressão demonstraram que os médicos, em comparação com outros profissionais, são mais propensos a abordar, aconselhar e oferecer tratamento de cessação aos pacientes fumantes (p≤0,05).

Conclusão:: Esforços devem ser direcionados para aprimorar o treinamento sobre cessação do tabagismo para profissionais de saúde, contribuindo para melhorar os resultados clínicos e a sobrevivência dos pacientes com câncer.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS: nothing to declare.

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