Prevalence and factors related to smoking and smoking cessation 6 months following a cancer diagnosis: a population-based study

Purpose: Limited research has examined smoking amongst recent cancer survivors or the relative contribution of factors on smoking behaviour. This study aimed to describe amongst recent Australian cancer survivors (i) prevalence of smoking by cancer type, (ii) characteristics associated with continued smoking following diagnosis, (iii) intention to quit among those who continue to smoke and (iv) characteristics associated with quitting following diagnosis. Method: Cross-sectional data were analysed from 1299 cancer survivors diagnosed with their first primary cancer recruited from two Australian cancer registries in Australia between 2006 and 2008. Results: Of participants, 8.6 % reported current smoking. Participants who were younger and single or widowed reported higher odds of current smoking. Participants who had a certificate/diploma or tertiary education reported lower odds of smoking. Among current smokers, 53 % intended to quit in the future. Lung cancer survivors reported more than four times the odds of quitting smoking since diagnosis compared to other cancer types. Conclusion: Of recent Australian cancer survivors, 14 % report continued smoking. Implications for Cancer Survivors: Smoking following a cancer diagnosis is associated with increased risk of mortality and further morbidity. There is a need to target cessation efforts towards survivors who are younger, without a partner and with a low level of education.