Smoking attitudes in patients referred to a city-wide urgent ENT head and neck cancer service: an exploratory study looking at current smokers.

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.