Tobacco Control and Smoking Cessation–Related Content in Oncology Meetings: A Systematic Scoping Review

Abstract

Introduction

Despite the importance of smoking cessation in cancer care, it remains unclear how much tobacco control and smoking-related content (TCSCR) is included in major oncology meetings. Developing an understanding of the amount of content can help to improve education and dissemination of the benefits of smoking cessation in cancer care.

Methods

We performed a scoping review of TCSCR abstracts and educational sessions using online programs and abstract books from 2018 to 2023 for 12 major oncology meetings across different disciplines and disease sites.

Results

A total of 5178 TCSCR content was identified using our search criteria; 421 abstracts and 119 educational sessions met the inclusion criteria. Between 2018 and 2023, the World Cancer Congress (WCC) and the World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) had the highest mean percentage of smoking-related abstracts (WCC: 4.96 ± 3.77%; WCLC: 1.81 ± 0.77%) and educational sessions (WCC: 3.48 ± 1.30%; WCLC: 3.15 ± 1.06%). Among the included abstracts, most (79%) first authors were from high-income countries. Around 39% percent of abstracts focused on tobacco as a cancer risk factor, 34% smoking cessation, and 26% cancer outcomes. Most abstracts were presented as posters (65%), as oral abstracts (27%), or as published abstracts (8%). The distribution of topic focus (p = 0.004) and session type (p < 0.001) differed between abstracts from high-income and low-middle-income countries.

Conclusions

Despite the importance of smoking cessation in oncology, TCSCR abstracts and educational content are limited at major oncology meetings. Organizers of oncology conferences should be encouraged to explore strategies to include sessions and attract submissions on these topics, particularly from underrepresented regions.