Patterns of Tobacco Use among patients with Cancer - An observational Study - POTUCS

INTRODUCTION: Cancer patients commonly present with antecedent addiction to tobacco consumption which in turn accounts for at least 30% of all cancer deaths. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, single-institutional, observational study using a validated questionnaire by physical interview was done (by the authors) to determine the pattern of tobacco use and the causes of starting and quitting tobacco among adult cancer patients (with tobacco addiction) and correlate the findings with the sociodemographic variables. One-way analysis of variance (Kruskal–Wallis test) was used to compare the difference in intensity (I), duration (D), and cumulative dose (C) of tobacco use with respect to sociodemographic variables. Correlation between intensity, duration, and cumulative dose as well as intensity, duration, and cumulative dose (IDC) with sociodemographic characteristics was done using Spearman’s test. RESULTS: Two hundred and sixty questionnaires were included in the final analysis. The median age of the patients was 57 years (interquartile range: 45–65). Most patients were males (92.31%), had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 1 (69.6%), and smoked tobacco (66.2%). A significant association was found between sex and I and C (tobacco chewing), sex and IDC (tobacco smoking), education and cumulative dose (tobacco smoking), and diagnosis with intensity and duration (tobacco chewing). Positive correlation was obtained between age (in years) and DC (smoking) and negative correlation between education and IDC (smoking). CONCLUSIONS: The study ascertains the IDC of tobacco consumption among patients with cancer, its correlation with sociodemographic parameters, and the reasons for starting and quitting tobacco which would better formulate tailored tobacco mitigation strategies for this population.