{"title":"Smoking attitudes in patients referred to a city-wide urgent ENT head and neck cancer service: an exploratory study looking at current smokers.","authors":"Ehsan E Salim, Alison Lim, Jenny Montgomery","doi":"10.1017/S0022215125000131","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Smoking is a risk factor for head and neck cancer. Referral for suspected head and neck cancer can be an opportunity for reassessing smoking behaviour. This study examined attitudes towards smoking in patients referred urgently with suspected head and neck cancer.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A total of 98 smokers were referred urgently for suspected head and neck cancer. Patients completed the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence and the Perceived Risk and Benefits Questionnaire.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, higher education background (education beyond secondary or high school level) had a lower dependence score (<i>p</i> = 0.02) and men were more likely to have higher dependence scores (<i>p</i> = 0.02). In the Perceived Risk and Benefits Questionnaire, women scored higher for concerns regarding the negative effects of smoking cessation (<i>p</i> = 0.01) and the perceived health benefits of smoking cessation were greater in those with higher education (<i>p</i> = 0.03).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Men are more nicotine dependent. Women are concerned about perceived side effects of smoking cessation. Patients with a higher education background are more receptive to cessation interventions and should be identified early.</p>","PeriodicalId":16293,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Laryngology and Otology","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Laryngology and Otology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022215125000131","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective: Smoking is a risk factor for head and neck cancer. Referral for suspected head and neck cancer can be an opportunity for reassessing smoking behaviour. This study examined attitudes towards smoking in patients referred urgently with suspected head and neck cancer.
Method: A total of 98 smokers were referred urgently for suspected head and neck cancer. Patients completed the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence and the Perceived Risk and Benefits Questionnaire.
Results: In the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, higher education background (education beyond secondary or high school level) had a lower dependence score (p = 0.02) and men were more likely to have higher dependence scores (p = 0.02). In the Perceived Risk and Benefits Questionnaire, women scored higher for concerns regarding the negative effects of smoking cessation (p = 0.01) and the perceived health benefits of smoking cessation were greater in those with higher education (p = 0.03).
Conclusion: Men are more nicotine dependent. Women are concerned about perceived side effects of smoking cessation. Patients with a higher education background are more receptive to cessation interventions and should be identified early.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology (JLO) is a leading, monthly journal containing original scientific articles and clinical records in otology, rhinology, laryngology and related specialties. Founded in 1887, JLO is absorbing reading for ENT specialists and trainees. The journal has an international outlook with contributions from around the world, relevant to all specialists in this area regardless of the country in which they practise. JLO contains main articles (original, review and historical), case reports and short reports as well as radiology, pathology or oncology in focus, a selection of abstracts, book reviews, letters to the editor, general notes and calendar, operative surgery techniques, and occasional supplements. It is fully illustrated and has become a definitive reference source in this fast-moving subject area. Published monthly an annual subscription is excellent value for money. Included in the subscription is access to the JLO interactive web site with searchable abstract database of the journal archive back to 1887.