Effectiveness of Intensive Smoking Cessation Interventions in Patients With Cancer

The intervention comprises 5-6 meetings during six weeks, and can be held in group or as an individual intervention. It is based on counselling and a clearly structured manual-based patient education programme taught by specially trained staff, and contains individual counselling on nicotine replacement therapy or other medical support, according to the level of dependence measured by the Fagerström test score. The first two weeks cover teaching sessions on: ambivalence and motivation, pros and cons of continuous smoking versus cessation, and a quit date is set between the 2. and 3. week. The last 3 sessions cover: risk situations, withdrawal symptoms and medical support for withdrawal symptoms, relapse prevention and how to handle a completely smoke-free life.