Availability, Reading Level, Quality, and Accessibility of Cancer Center Smoking Cessation Materials
Dalia Littman1, Abhishek Bhattacharya2, Fumiko Chino3
1New York University Langone Medical Center, New Yotk, United States.
Cancer Prevention Research (Philadelphia, Pa.)
|August 26, 2025
Summary
Quitting smoking after a cancer diagnosis improves survival. However, cancer center websites often lack clear, actionable advice to help patients stop smoking, hindering access to vital cessation resources.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Public Health
- Health Communication
Background:
- Smoking cessation after cancer diagnosis is linked to better patient outcomes and reduced mortality.
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers are key resources for cancer patients seeking medical information.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the quality and comprehensiveness of smoking cessation information provided on NCI-designated cancer center websites.
- To identify gaps in online resources that could support smoking cessation among cancer patients.
Main Methods:
- A systematic search of 64 NCI-designated cancer center websites was conducted.
- Webpages focused on smoking cessation were assessed for content quality, including information on mortality benefits, cessation aids, counseling, e-cigarette risks, and external resource links.
- The average reading level of the content was estimated.
Main Results:
- 55% of cancer center websites had dedicated smoking cessation pages.
- Content often lacked explicit links between cessation and mortality benefits (57%), medication details (23%), or behavioral counseling tips (26%).
- Information on e-cigarette risks/benefits was present on 31% of pages, and external resource links varied (e.g., smokefree.gov: 43%, quitlines: 57%). The average reading level was 10.5.
Conclusions:
- Cancer center websites frequently offer insufficient actionable and comprehensible smoking cessation information for patients.
- There is a significant opportunity to enhance online communication regarding effective smoking cessation strategies to improve patient longevity and quality of life.
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