Intervention strategies for smoking cessation. The role of oncology nursing

The role of oncology nurses concerned with the health effects of cigarette smoking may often be defined as dealing with the morbidity and mortality associated with tobacco use--caring for individuals diagnosed with tobacco-related malignancies. As current treatment methods of many of these malignancies offer little hope of cure, oncology nurses need to diverge from these traditional roles and include a focus on primary prevention activities. An essential component of these activities is a knowledge of smoking cessation education strategies and an understanding of the methods that motivate and assist individuals to quit smoking.