By JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(4):e249525. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.9525

Persistent smoking is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in cancer care.¹ Black and Hispanic patients with cancer typically have lower access to and use of tobacco treatment services compared with White patients.¹ We examined whether a universal tobacco screening and opt-out tobacco treatment referral model could promote equity in access and use of tobacco treatment among patients with cancer.¹

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Results

As shown in the Figure and Table, among 302 971 patients seen during the study period (58.7% female and 41.3% male; mean [SD] age, 61.9 [14.6] years), the prevalence of current tobacco use was 6.1% and varied significantly by race, with Black or African American patients reporting the highest tobacco use (7.1% compared with 3.8%, 6.2%, and 6.1% for patients of Asian, White, and other race, respectively; P < .001). There were no observed differences in tobacco prevalence between Hispanic or Latino/e/a/x and non-Hispanic or Latino/e/a/x patients; however, prevalence was lower among patients with missing ethnicity data. Of 18 475 patients identified as currently using tobacco, 87.1% were referred for tobacco treatment. Of those referred, 87.6% were eligible, of whom 69.3% were reached for scheduling. Overall acceptance of tobacco treatment among patients reached was 54.8% and was highest among Black or African American patients (66.3% compared with 46.5%, 53.7%, and 58.1% for Asian, White, and other races, respectively; P < .001) and Hispanic or Latino/e/a/x patients (60.5% compared with 54.3% for non-Hispanic or Latino/e/a/x patients; P = .005).

Citation

Bates-Pappas GE, Schofield E, Chichester LR, et al. Universal Tobacco Screening and Opt-Out Treatment Referral Strategy Among Patients Diagnosed With Cancer by Race and Ethnicity. JAMA Netw Open.2024;7(4):e249525. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.9525

SOURCE

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2817860