Clinical Trial 19733

Study Title

Motivating a Spectrum of Cancer Patients to Quit Smoking: Intervention Development and Feasibility

Summary

The study team would like to develop a minimal self-help intervention to increase motivation to quit smoking in patients with cancers not widely known as smoking-related.

Objective

Specific Aim 1. To develop, using a systematic, iterative process, a minimal intervention, specific for each cancer type, to increase motivation to quit smoking in patients recently diagnosed with a cancer not widely known to be associated with smoking. We will follow a three-phase process: (1) Qualitative assessment of representative cancer patients regarding knowledge about their cancer and smoking, and their perceived needs and preferences regarding motivation to quit smoking; (2) Development of messages and other intervention content to boost motivation to quit smoking based upon the TMM and Phase 1 results; and (3) After a full draft of the intervention has been developed, presentation of the initial draft of the materials to the target population, with modifications based on their feedback. As per the TMM, we expect to leverage personal risk perceptions, emotional response, and challenge to self-concept by targeting the brief intervention for each patients cancer type, focusing initially on five cancer types (breast, colorectal, gynecological, skin melanoma, and bladder). Building on our teams prior research and proposed formative work in Phases 1 to 3, we expect to create targeted self-help interventions in the form of booklets/pamphlets for each type of cancer. Specific Aim 2. To assess feasibility and acceptability of the intervention among the target populations. Once the minimal intervention is developed in Aim 1, it will be distributed to cancer patients who are current smokers and have been diagnosed with one of the five cancer types above (N=50). We will evaluate if the intervention is feasible (e.g., screening, recruitment, completion of assessment measures, and follow-up) and acceptable (e.g., self-reported patient satisfaction). These data will provide valuable information in preparation for a subsequent, fully-powered randomized trial in which our motivational intervention will precede an evidence-based smoking cessation intervention. In summary, the goal of the intervention is to harness the motivational power of this potential teachable moment beyond lung and H&N cancers. Given the clinical importance of smoking cessation to all cancer patients, this research has potential for wide impact upon cancer treatment outcomes and quality of life.