New Study Highlights Benefits of Integrating Stop Smoking Support with Lung Cancer Screening

In recent research led by the University of Nottingham, findings emphasize the life-saving potential of incorporating stop smoking support within national lung cancer screening programs. 

This initiative, examined within the framework of the Yorkshire Lung Screening Trial, suggests that such integration could significantly decrease smoking-related diseases and deaths among high-risk populations.

Coordinated Efforts Yield Promising Results

The study, published in the European Respiratory Journal, provided 2,150 current smokers, who were participating in lung cancer screening program, the opportunity to consult with stop-smoking advisors.

An impressive 89% of these participants accepted the initial offer to engage with on-site stop smoking support, and of those, 75% chose to continue with weekly sessions. 

The study found this support strategy to be effective across all participant groups, irrespective of age, ethnicity, or socio-economic status.

 Interestingly, men were less inclined to engage with the support, while participants who were more dependent on nicotine showed a higher motivation and confidence in their ability to quit smoking, which correlated with a greater likelihood of accepting ongoing support.

Statistical Insights and Demographic Trends

The preliminary outcomes four weeks post-intervention were promising, with 323 individuals reporting cessation of smoking—266 of whom confirmed this via a breath test. 

Notably, men showed a higher cessation rate, especially those with prior attempts to quit or a stronger motivation to cease smoking. Conversely, heavy smokers faced more challenges in quitting.

Expert Commentary on Policy Implications

Professor Rachael Murray from the University of Nottingham highlighted the need for dedicated funding to ensure the national screening program's success. 

"The high uptake of smoking cessation support and promising quit rates reported across a range of participant demographics indicates that adding stop smoking support as an integrated part of the national lung cancer screening program has the potential to reduce all-cause smoking-related morbidity and mortality. Protected, dedicated funding must be considered by policymakers in order to ensure the national screening program realizes its' full potential." stated Professor Murray.

Urgent Call for Policy Action

Experts, including Dr. Stuart Griffiths from Yorkshire Cancer Research, advocate for immediate policy intervention to allocate necessary resources for this critical support.

 "The evidence is clear that lives can be saved by offering people the chance to quit smoking with specialist support while they are on a lung health check unit. This opportunistic moment to help people significantly improve their health and reduce their risk of cancer and other serious diseases should not be ignored. It is vital that funding is directed to provide this essential support." Dr. Griffiths emphasized.

Acknowledgments and Publication Details

This summary is based on the study "Uptake and 4-week quit rates from an opt-out co-located smoking cessation service delivered alongside community-based low-dose computed tomography screening within the Yorkshire Lung Screening Trial" by Rachael L. Murray et al., published in the European Respiratory Journal (2024, DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01768-2023). 

Additional context and analysis are drawn from related research and ongoing studies in the field.

This summary is adapted from an article on News-Medical.net, available at https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240418/Integrating-stop-smoking-support-with-lung-cancer-screening-could-save-lives.aspx.

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