Short-term preoperative smoking intervention for women undergoing breast cancer surgery

Contact person

name:	Thordis Thomsen
Phone:	+45 4488 3595
E-mail:	thotho02@heh.regionh.dk
Hospital:	None
Network:	None

Project details

Langugage of communication:	English, Danish
Standard relation:	Standard 3. Patient Information and Intervention
Date of last update:	05. May 2008

Background

Smokers are at higher risk of developing postoperative complications. A 6-8 weeks preoperative smoking cessation programme halved the postoperative complication rate in patients undergoing joint replacement surgery. However, there is not time for preoperative smoking interventions of this duration prior to cancer surgery.

Purpose and objectives

To examine if Short-term Preoperative Smoking Intervention (SPSI) for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients would: - Reduce the postoperative complications requiring treatment - Increase long-term smoking cessation rates - Not cause nicotine withdrawal symptoms or increased stress in the perioperative smoking cessation period.

Methodology and actions

130 women smokers scheduled for breast cancer surgery at three breast surgical departments in Denmark were enrolled in a randomised controlled trial from March 2006- December 2007. Patients were randomised in stratified blocks to: - Control group - standard care with no specific recommendations regarding smoking, or to - Intervention group - SPSI recommending smoking cessation from 2 days before to 10 days after surgery and use of this experience as a platform for sustained abstinence.

Main target groups

Women smokers undergoing breast cancer surgery

Results and conclusions

Clinical complications requiring treatment up to 6 months postoperatively, self-reported smoking cessation and motivation for smoking cessation up to 12 months postoperatively and finally, daily self-report of nicotine withdrawal symptoms and stress from 2 days before to 10 days after surgery. Data collectio nis ongoing through blinded assessment of case notes and prescheduled, structured telephone interviews by blinder interviewers. Datacollection will be completed in December 2008.

Purpose and objectives

To examine if Short-term Preoperative Smoking Intervention (SPSI) for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients would: - Reduce the postoperative complications requiring treatment - Increase long-term smoking cessation rates - Not cause nicotine withdrawal symptoms or increased stress in the perioperative smoking cessation period.

Publications

None