Introduction: A substantial proportion of cancer patients continue to smoke after their
diagnosis but relatively few studies have evaluated correlates of nicotine dependence and
smoking rate in this population, which could help guide smoking cessation interventions.
Aim: This study evaluated correlates of smoking rate and nicotine ...
Introduction: A substantial proportion of cancer patients continue to smoke after their
diagnosis but relatively few studies have evaluated correlates of nicotine dependence and
smoking rate in this population, which could help guide smoking cessation interventions.
Aim: This study evaluated correlates of smoking rate and nicotine dependence in a
sample of 207 cancer patients.
Methods: A cross-sectional analysis using multiple linear regression evaluated disease,
demographic, affective, and tobacco-seeking correlates of smoking rate and nicotine dependence.
Smoking rate was assessed using a timeline follow-back assessment of cigarettes smoked per
day. The Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence measured levels of nicotine dependence.
Results: The primary analysis, using multiple linear regression predicting nicotine
dependence, showed an association with smoking to alleviate a sense of addiction from the
Reasons for Smoking Scale and tobacco-seeking behavior from the Concurrent Choice Task (p <
.05), but not with affect measured by the HADS and PANAS (p > .05). Multiple linear
regression predicting smoking rates prior to pre-quit visit also showed an association with
smoking to alleviate addiction (p < .05). ANOVA showed that Caucasian participants reported
greater rates of smoking compared to other reported races.
Conclusions: The results suggest that behavioral smoking cessation interventions that
focus on helping patients to manage tobacco-seeking behavior, rather than mood management
interventions, could help cancer patients to quit smoking, as this data could be used to help tailor
treatments for this population.
