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BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
Chronic diseases related to tobacco exposure are common among veterans. Persistent tobacco use after being diagnosed with these diseases decreases quality of life and survival. Yet, 30% of veterans with these conditions continue to smoke. Researchers have found that the social environment is important for smokers. In our current NCI-funded study, 70% of veterans with lung cancer identified at least one family member who smokes and 45% live with a family member that smokes. A family-supported smoking cessation intervention timed to follow a veteran's diagnosis of cancer or heart disease could be effective for helping veterans quit smoking.
OBJECTIVE(S):
The overarching aim of the study is to evaluate in a randomized trial the impact of delivering a family-supported intervention compared to a standard veteran-focused intervention to promote smoking cessation among cancer and heart disease patients. Accordingly, the specific aims are:
AIM 1: To evaluate the impact of a family-supported intervention on rates of abstinence from cigarettes (self-reported 7-day point prevalent abstinence) at 5-month (2 weeks post-intervention) and 12-month follow-ups.
Hypothesis 1: Abstinence rates will be significantly higher among veterans who receive the family-supported intervention than those who receive the standard intervention.
AIM 2: To evaluate the impact of a family-supported self-help intervention on perceived support for quitting smoking at 5-month (2 weeks post-intervention) and 12-month follow-ups.
Hypothesis 2: Perceived support for quitting smoking will be significantly greater among veterans who receive the family-supported intervention than those who receive the standard intervention.
AIM 3: To measure the impact of smoking cessation on quality of life in veterans with cancer or heart disease.
Hypothesis 3: Symptom-related quality of life will be improved among veterans who quit smoking compared to veterans who continue to smoke.
METHODS:
Proposed is a two-group design in which 470 veterans who smoke will be randomized to receive a: STANDARD intervention including a letter from the patient's physician encouraging the patient to quit smoking, a self-help cessation kit, nicotine replacement patches, and telephone counseling, or a FAMILY-SUPPORTED intervention that includes the physician letter, a self-help cessation kit, nicotine replacement patches, a tailored support skills booklet and telephone counseling calls focusing on identifying and enlisting social support. The main distinction between the two arms of this study is the family matters intervention helps veterans identify a support person and increase positive interactions between the veteran and their designated support person to facilitate smoking cessation.
FINDINGS/RESULTS:
Project is currently recruiting patients; no results at this time.
IMPACT:
Veterans with chronic disease who continue to smoke exact a significant burden on the VA health care system. Effective smoking cessation programs that target veterans who continue to smoke after the diagnosis of a smoking-related chronic illness are needed.
PUBLICATIONS:
None at this time.
DRA:
Aging and Age-Related Changes, Chronic Diseases, Health Services and Systems
DRE:
Prevention, Communication and Decision Making, Treatment
Keywords:
Behavior (patient), Chronic disease (other & unspecified), Smoking
MeSH Terms:
none
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