Smoking Cessation: An Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist-Led Program

Area of Science:

• Oncology Nursing
• Public Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Healthcare providers often lack time for patient smoking cessation counseling.
• Limited emphasis on behavioral counseling contributes to low smoking cessation rates.
• Effective smoking cessation requires a combination of FDA-approved medications and behavioral support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the crucial role of oncology nurses in smoking cessation.
• To detail the implementation of a smoking cessation program by an oncology clinical nurse specialist.
• To advocate for integrating comprehensive smoking cessation support within oncology care.

Main Methods:

• The article describes the creation of a smoking cessation program at a healthcare institution.
• It focuses on the initiative led by an oncology clinical nurse specialist.
• The approach emphasizes the integration of evidence-based practices in nursing care.

Main Results:

• The establishment of a dedicated smoking cessation program.
• Increased focus on behavioral counseling for smoking patients.
• Empowerment of oncology nurses to lead cessation efforts.

Conclusions:

• Oncology nurses, particularly advanced practice nurses, can effectively lead smoking cessation initiatives.
• Integrating pharmacotherapy with behavioral counseling significantly enhances patient quit rates.
• The described program model offers a scalable solution for improving smoking cessation in cancer care settings.