Behavioral Counseling for Quitting Smoking in Cancer Patients

Overseen By Massey CPCTeam

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Virginia Commonwealth University

Disqualifiers: Non VCUHealth patient, Non English-speaking

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 24

Duration: 12 weeks

75 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to find the best ways to help cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers quit smoking by integrating tobacco cessation treatment into their regular care. It focuses on behavioral counseling for tobacco cessation, which includes learning about the dangers of smoking, setting goals to quit, and managing cravings. Participants should have a history of cancer and be current or recently-quit tobacco users. As an unphased trial, participants contribute to valuable research that may enhance support for those affected by cancer.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that behavioral counseling for tobacco cessation is safe for cancer patients?

Research has shown that behavioral counseling is generally safe for people trying to quit smoking. This counseling uses simple techniques like setting goals, making plans, and solving problems. These methods have successfully helped people stop smoking. Studies have found that nearly half of cancer patients in these programs quit smoking.

Reports have not indicated major safety issues with behavioral counseling itself. Instead, it focuses on teaching and supporting people to quit smoking, which can lead to better health. The approach is well-tolerated, with no known serious side effects. Overall, this makes it a safe and effective option for those looking to quit smoking, especially for cancer patients. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about behavioral counseling for tobacco cessation in cancer patients because it offers a holistic approach to quitting smoking. Unlike standard treatments that often rely mainly on medications like nicotine replacement therapy or prescription drugs, this counseling integrates psychoeducation with evidence-based techniques such as stimulus control and self-monitoring. It emphasizes practical strategies like setting a quit date and managing social influences, which can be tailored to each individual's lifestyle and needs. This personalized and comprehensive approach may enhance motivation and support lasting behavior change, giving it an edge over more traditional methods.

What evidence suggests that behavioral counseling is effective for tobacco cessation in cancer patients?

Research shows that talking to a counselor can help people quit smoking. A recent study found that even short counseling sessions can boost the chances of quitting by 30%. In this trial, participants will receive behavioral counseling for tobacco cessation. Previous research has shown that ongoing counseling can lead to about 45% of cancer patients staying smoke-free at follow-ups. Combining counseling with medication might make quitting even easier. These findings suggest that counseling is a promising way to help cancer patients stop smoking. ^{1 3 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Livingstone Aduse-Poku, PhD

Principal Investigator

Virginia Commonwealth University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for current or recently-quit tobacco users who have had cancer of any type, are willing to follow the study rules, and can stay in the study until it ends. They must understand English and be patients at VCUHealth.

Inclusion Criteria

Identify as a current or recently-quit tobacco user

I have a history of cancer, whether it's active or in remission.

Provision of signed and dated informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria

Not a VCUHealth patient

Non English-speaking

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive behavioral counseling and pharmacotherapy for tobacco cessation

12 weeks

Regular visits for behavioral intervention sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in tobacco use and satisfaction with the intervention

12 weeks

Follow-up assessments at Week 24

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Behavioral counseling for tobacco cessation

Trial Overview

The study is testing how well behavioral counseling helps cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers stop using tobacco when it's part of their regular clinical care.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Behavioral Counseling for Tobacco Cessation Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Behavioral counseling for tobacco cessation consists of psychoeducation in combination with evidence-based behavior change techniques including stimulus control, self-monitoring, goal-setting, implementation planning, and problem-solving. Specific content topics include the harms of smoking/benefits of quitting, coping with cravings and withdrawal, setting a quit date, managing social influences, and relapse prevention.

Group II: Observational Arm Active Control 1 Intervention

Both the behavioral intervention and pharmacotherapy will be conducted as a routine clinical activities (treatment as usual)-not as research activities

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Virginia Commonwealth University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

732

Recruited

22,900,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Behavioral treatments for tobacco use are effective and cost-effective, comparable to pharmacotherapies, but have not advanced as quickly in recent years.

There is a need for more research on tobacco cessation interventions specifically for cancer patients, and clinicians are encouraged to use the Five A's approach to support these patients in quitting smoking.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Behavioral tobacco cessation treatments: yesterday's news or tomorrow's headlines? Brandon, TH.[2007]

Continued tobacco use after a cancer diagnosis significantly worsens treatment outcomes, increasing toxicity, recurrence, second tumors, and mortality rates among cancer patients.

Quitting smoking after a cancer diagnosis is associated with improved treatment outcomes, and patients are generally receptive to evidence-based cessation support, highlighting the need for better access and efficacy of cessation programs in oncology.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Tobacco use in the oncology setting: advancing clinical practice and research. Gritz, ER., Toll, BA., Warren, GW.[2022]

Tobacco use is a significant risk factor for cancer and negatively impacts cancer prognosis, yet effective cessation treatments are underutilized in oncology settings.

Implementing a comprehensive tobacco treatment program, which includes automatic referrals, motivational interviewing, and combined behavioral and pharmacological interventions, can significantly enhance smoking cessation success and improve health outcomes for cancer patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Tobacco Cessation in Oncology Care. Kaiser, EG., Prochaska, JJ., Kendra, MS.[2023]

Citations

1.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3316932/

Smoking Cessation Counseling Beliefs and Behaviors of ...

A recent meta-analysis suggests that even 3 minutes of provider advice and counseling may increase the odds of tobacco abstinence by 30% [22]. However, in a ...

2.

jamanetwork.com

jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2825372

Survival Outcomes of an Early Intervention Smoking ...

This cohort study evaluates the survival outcomes of currently smoking patients with cancer who entered into a smoking cessation treatment program based.

3.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8094414/

Effect of Sustained Smoking Cessation Counseling and ...

Among patients recently diagnosed with cancer, sustained cessation counseling and free medication may increase the likelihood of smoking abstinence compared ...

4.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213538323000802

The effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions after ...

Conclusion. A combination of pharmacological and behavioural interventions may be the most effective intervention for smoking cessation in patients with cancer.

5.

mdanderson.org

mdanderson.org/newsroom/study-shows-nearly-half-of-cancer-patients-who-enter-a-comprehensive-tobacco-treatment-program-quit-smoking.h00-159306201.html

Study shows nearly half of cancer patients who enter a ...

At three, six and nine-month follow-ups, smoking abstinence rates averaged 45%, 46% and 44%, respectively. Based on the program's success, the ...

6.

jamanetwork.com

jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2771608

Effect of Sustained Smoking Cessation Counseling and ...

Sustained cessation counseling and free medication may increase the likelihood of smoking abstinence compared with shorter-term counseling.

7.

facs.org

facs.org/for-medical-professionals/news-publications/news-and-articles/bulletin/2025/september-2025-volume-110-issue-8/beyond-ask-qi-initiative-supports-smoking-cessation-in-cancer-care/

Beyond ASK QI Initiative Supports Smoking Cessation in ...

Evidence-based approaches to smoking cessation can improve survival by approximately 1.8 years if a patient quits within 6 months of a cancer ...