Increasing readiness to stop smoking in women undergoing cervical screening: evaluation of two leaflets

This study evaluated the impact of informing women smokers of the link between smoking and cervical cancer. Women smokers aged 20-64 years from two general practices in the United Kingdom were randomly assigned to receive an extended leaflet, a brief leaflet, or no leaflet. Both leaflets informed women of the threat of cervical cancer, how stopping smoking would decrease their vulnerability to it, and the effectiveness of smoking cessation services. The extended leaflet included an elaborated explanation of how smoking adversely affects the cervix. Questionnaires were completed by 172 women. The main outcome was readiness to stop smoking within the next 6 months. Secondary outcomes were perceptions of severity and vulnerability to cervical cancer, beliefs about the effectiveness of reducing susceptibility by stopping smoking, and self-efficacy in stopping smoking. Women sent the briefer leaflet were more likely to be ready to stop smoking within the next 6 months compared with those sent the extended leaflet (75% vs. 46%, 95% CI=11%-48%) and those not sent a leaflet (75% vs. 40%, 95% CI=19%-52%). Compared with smokers not sent a leaflet, those sent either of the two leaflets perceived their vulnerability to cervical cancer as higher and had greater expectations that stopping smoking would reduce this risk. In conclusion, providing women with brief written information about the link between smoking and cervical cancer increases their readiness to stop smoking. The impact on smoking cessation of combining such information with advice from health professionals conducting cervical screening needs to be evaluated.