Assessment of Trends in Cigarette Smoking Cessation After Cancer Diagnosis Among US Adults, 2000 to 2017.

Importance: Continued cigarette smoking after cancer diagnosis has been shown to adversely alter the cancer survivor's health outcomes and quality of life. Although considerable progress has been made in reducing cigarette smoking in the United States over the last decades, trends in cigarette smoking cessation among cancer survivors have not yet been fully investigated. Objective: To evaluate temporal trends in cigarette smoking cessation and their sociodemographic and behavioral correlates in the US population of adult cancer survivors. Design, Setting, and Participants: This investigation was a serial cross-sectional study of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) from 2006 to 2018, a household survey of civilian US residents who were 18 years or older. Data analysis was performed from June to October 2019. The NHIS is population based and representative of the US population. Included in this study were 381 989 respondents to the NHIS in 2006 to 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the probability of quitting cigarette smoking after first cancer diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were factors associated with quitting cigarette smoking after cancer diagnosis. Results: Data on 381 989 adults (weighted N = 239 114 051; mean [SD] age, 48.96 [18.28] years; 211 508 [55.37%] female; 61.90% non-Hispanic White, 13.97% non-Hispanic Black, and 16.22% Hispanic individuals) 18 years or older were analyzed from the 2006 to 2018 NHIS, of whom 8.80% (n = 35 524; weighted n = 21 016 720) were diagnosed with cancer. Among cancer survivors diagnosed between 2000 and 2017, the age-adjusted prevalence of current cigarette smoking at the time of first cancer diagnosis was 24.45% (n = 4054; weighted n = 2 395 173). The probability of reporting a cigarette smoking cessation event after first cancer diagnosis statistically significantly increased with each year of cancer diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR], 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02-1.08), indicating upward trends in the prevalence of quitting cigarette smoking over time. Older individuals (HR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.03), individuals diagnosed as having a smoking-related cancer (HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.06-1.54), individuals with an undergraduate degree (HR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.08-1.79) or a postgraduate degree (HR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.18-2.20), and individuals with obesity (HR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.06-1.63) had a higher probability of reporting a cigarette smoking cessation event after cancer diagnosis, whereas individuals living below the poverty level (HR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.48-0.81) had a lower probability of reporting a cigarette smoking cessation event after cancer diagnosis. Conclusions and Relevance: In this nationally representative survey of the US adult population, the likelihood of cigarette smoking cessation among cancer survivors increased with the year of cancer diagnosis from 2000 to 2017; however, the improvement is incremental, and the prevalence of smoking remained high among this population. Considering the projected increase in the population of cancer survivors in the United States, urgent action is needed to increase cigarette smoking cessation rates in this high-risk population.

Smoking Behaviors in Survivors of Smoking-Related and Non-Smoking-Related Cancers.

Importance: The population of cancer survivors is rapidly growing in the US. Tobacco smoking is associated with many cancers; however, whether cigarette smoking behaviors among cancer survivors vary according to cancer type-that is, smoking-related cancers (SRCs) vs non-smoking-related cancers (NSRCs)-remains unclear. Objectives: To examine cigarette smoking prevalence and behaviors (ie, continuing or quitting smoking) among cancer survivors and to compare them between survivors of SRCs and NSRCs. Design, Setting, and Participants: This study was a cross-sectional analysis of the 2017 National Health Interview Survey, a household survey of civilian US residents who were aged 18 years or older. The National Health Interview Survey is population based and is representative of the US population. Data analysis was performed from June to October 2019. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcomes were prevalence of current cigarette smoking among cancer survivors and prevalence of continuing smoking and quitting smoking after a cancer diagnosis. Secondary outcomes included factors associated with continued smoking vs quitting smoking after a cancer diagnosis. Results: A total of 26 742 respondents (mean [SD] age, 50.97 [18.61] years; 14 646 women [51.76%]) to the 2017 National Health Interview Survey were included in this study. Of the 3068 individuals (9.42%) in the study population who had cancer, 589 (19.96%) were SRC survivors, 2297 (74.50%) were NSRC survivors, 168 (4.96%) were survivors of both SRC and NSRC, and the remaining 14 (0.58%) had missing information about the type of cancer. Four hundred forty-nine SRC survivors (54.08%) were women, compared with 1412 NSRC survivors (54.30%). Ninety-six SRC survivors (15.69%) and 151 NSRC survivors (7.99%) were younger than 45 years. Overall, 372 cancer survivors (13.16%) were current smokers. Current smoking prevalence was higher among survivors of SRCs (145 survivors [19.78%]) compared with NSRC survivors (251 survivors [10.63%]). Among cancer survivors, 309 current smokers at cancer diagnosis (43.96%) reported having successfully quit smoking and 372 (56.04%) reported continuing smoking. Among the continuing smokers, 176 (56.49%) reported an unsuccessful quit attempt in the last 12 months. After cancer diagnosis, SRC survivors had higher odds of continued smoking compared with NSRC survivors (odds ratio [OR], 2.10; 95% CI, 1.12-3.93; P = .02). Men (OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.05-3.57; P = .04), those with angina pectoris (OR, 5.40; 95% CI, 1.33-21.91; P = .02), and those with chronic bronchitis (OR, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.05-6.19; P = .04) had higher odds of continued smoking, whereas Hispanic participants (compared with non-Hispanic white participants: OR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.05-0.68; P = .01) and married participants (compared with never married participants: OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.12-0.96; P = .04) had lower odds of continued smoking. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that compared with NSRC survivors, SRC survivors may be at higher risk of being cigarette smokers at cancer diagnosis and of continuing smoking afterward. Although smoking cessation interventions are critically important for all cancer survivors, special efforts should target survivors of SRCs.

Health and lifestyle behaviors in colorectal cancer survivors with and without Lynch syndrome.

Lynch syndrome (LS), a hereditary cancer syndrome, accounts for approximately 3% of colorectal cancers (CRC). Positive health behaviors and surveillance are preventive strategies, but research on whether recommended behavioral guidelines are followed by individuals with LS is limited. Additional health education and promotion could be beneficial to the improved survivorship of CRC survivors. Explore health and lifestyle behaviors in CRC survivors with and without LS. We conducted a case-control study of CRC survivors with and without LS using a mailed questionnaire. Recruitment was conducted via patient registries at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (cases n = 33; controls n = 75) and through social media (cases n = 42). CRC survivors with and without LS in our study had substantially lower smoking prevalence (5.5% and 2.7%) compared to national prevalence (18.0%). However, they had higher levels of alcohol consumption (36.8% and 10.3% for male and female LS survivors, respectively, and 35.8% and 22.0% for male and female sporadic survivors, respectively) compared to national prevalence of 13.88% for males and 6.02% for females. Both groups of CRC survivors participate in negative health behaviors that impact survivorship. More research is needed to examine the relationship between personal engagement in preventive behaviors and patient-provider relationships to improve health behaviors and explore strategies for intervention. Additionally, better health education and lifestyle change recommendations would promote and reinforce positive health outcomes in the CRC population and especially in LS survivors.

Considering Systemic Barriers to Treating Tobacco Use in Clinical Settings in the United States.

The Comorbidity Workgroup of the Tobacco Treatment Research Network, within the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, previously highlighted the need to provide tobacco treatment to patients diagnosed with comorbid physical and mental health conditions. Yet, systemic barriers in the United States health care system prevent many patients who present for medical treatment from getting the evidence-based tobacco treatment that they need. The identified barriers include insufficient training in the epidemiologic impact of tobacco use, related disorders, and pharmacological and behavioral treatment approaches; misunderstanding among clinicians about the effectiveness of tobacco treatment; lack of therapeutic support from clinical staff; insufficient use of health information technology to improve tobacco use identification and treatment; and limited time and reimbursement for clinicians to provide treatment. We highlight three vignettes demonstrating the complexities of practical barriers at the health care system level. We consider each of the barriers in turn and discuss evidence-based strategies that could be implemented in the clinical care of patients with comorbid conditions. In addition, in the absence of compelling data to guide implementation approaches, we offer suggestions for potential strategies and avenues for future research. Implications: Three vignettes highlighted in this article illustrate some systemic barriers to providing tobacco treatment for patients being treated for comorbid conditions. We explore the barriers to tobacco treatment and offer suggestions for changes in training, health care systems, clinical workflow, and payment systems that could enhance the reach and the quality of tobacco treatment within the US health care system.

Development and preliminary validation of a mandarin Chinese language questionnaire measuring betel quid dependency among adults in Taiwan.

The purposes of this study were to develop the Chinese-version betel quid dependence instrument (BQDI) and to test its reliability and validity. An item pool relevant to betel quid dependence was generated. A panel of three experts assessed content validity including content relevance, clarity, and domain coverage. A cross-sectional study was conducted, consisting of 113 participants from a construction site, betel quid stalls, and a teaching hospital in Taichung, Taiwan. Construct validity was assessed by hypothesizing a significant correlation between the BQDI score and number of pieces-years for betel quid chewing and betel quid biomarkers. The overall Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.94. Factor analysis indicated the BQDI consisted of a three-factor structure, including physical and psychological cravings, lack of resistance to betel quid, and maladaptive use. We observed significant associations of BQDI total and factor scores with arecaidine (adjusted odds ratio [OR] for medium total BQDI score: 12.87, 95% CI: 1.45-114.5; high total BQDI score: 28.9, 3.53-236.6) and N-methylnipecotate (medium total BQDI score: 6.18, 1.21-31.62; high total BQDI score: 13.10, 2.72-63.03, respectively). Our results provide preliminary good internal consistency and construct validation of the Chinese-version BQDI as a measure of betel quid dependence in community adults.

A qualitative study of attitudes to and perceptions of betel quid consumption and its oral health implications in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVES: Betel quid (BQ) chewing is extremely prominent in South and Southeast Asia because it considered by users to be of social, cultural and religious importance. BQ chewing has been recognized as a risk factor for oral premalignant lesions and oral cancer. Because BQ chewing has become a severe health risk in Taiwan, the development of prevention and cessation programmes is essential. The purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes and perceptions associated with BQ consumption and its oral health implications in an attempt to inform the development of health promotion initiatives and BQ cessation efforts in Taiwan, where the dental profession could have a pivotal role in preventing and controlling BQ use among persons at risk. METHODS: This qualitative study used data gathered from focus groups and individual interviews. A convenience sample of 41 adults from Jhushan and Lugu Townships (Nantou County) and Taichung City, Taiwan, participated in this study (27 men, 14 women; 31 Han, 10 aboriginals from the Paiwan tribe; mean age 40.3, SD 9.2 years). RESULTS: Among the seven themes that emerged from the original study, five (Initiation, Health Risk Perception, Health Consequences, Withdrawal Symptoms and Help from Healthcare Providers) had oral/dental implications. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights research areas relevant to further investigation, such as incorporating brief BQ prevention and cessation counselling when early oral and dental signs associated with BQ consumption are detected. Undertaking behavioural interventions in dental settings might help to reduce the prevalence of BQ chewing in Taiwan.

HIV Care Initiation: A Teachable Moment for Smoking Cessation?

Introduction: Tobacco use among persons living with HIV represents an important risk factor for poor treatment outcomes, morbidity, and mortality. Thus, efforts designed to inform the development of appropriate smoking cessation programs for this population remains a public health priority. To address this need, a study was conducted to longitudinally assess the relationship between intention to quit smoking and cessation over the 12-month period following initiation of HIV care. Methods: Patients initiating HIV care at a large inner city safety net clinic were enrolled (n = 378) in a 12-month prospective study. Audio computer-assisted self-interviews were conducted at baseline, and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-enrollment, and HIV-related clinical data were collected from participants' electronic medical records. Variables of interest included intention to quit smoking, 7-day point prevalence smoking abstinence (biochemically verified), and stage of HIV. Data were collected in Houston, Texas from 2009 to 2015. Results: The sample was 75% male and 62% Black. Findings indicated that intention to quit smoking increased between baseline and 3 months, and subsequently trended downward from 3 to 12 months. Results from linear and generalized linear mixed models indicated that participants with advanced HIV disease (vs. not advanced) reported significantly (p < .05) higher intention to quit smoking at 3, 6, and 12 months post-study enrollment. A similar though nonsignificant pattern was observed in the smoking abstinence outcome. Conclusions: HIV treatment initiation appears to be associated with increases in intention to quit smoking thus serves as a potential teachable moment for smoking cessation intervention. Implications: This study documents significant increases in intention to quit smoking in the 3-month period following HIV care initiation. Moreover, quit intention trended downward following the 3-month follow-up until the 12-month follow-up. In addition, a marked effect for HIV disease stage was observed, whereby participants with advanced HIV disease (vs. those without) experienced a greater increase in intention to quit. HIV treatment initiation appears to be associated with increases in intention to quit smoking, thus serves as a crucial teachable moment for smoking cessation intervention for people living with HIV.

Defining a global research and policy agenda for betel quid and areca nut.

Betel quid and areca nut are known risk factors for many oral and oesophageal cancers, and their use is highly prevalent in the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, betel quid and areca nut are associated with health effects on the cardiovascular, nervous, gastrointestinal, metabolic, respiratory, and reproductive systems. Unlike tobacco, for which the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control provides evidence-based policies for reducing tobacco use, no global policy exists for the control of betel quid and areca nut use. Multidisciplinary research is needed to address this neglected global public health emergency and to mobilise efforts to control betel quid and areca nut use. In addition, future research is needed to advance our understanding of the basic biology, mechanisms, and epidemiology of betel quid and areca nut use, to advance possible prevention and cessation programmes for betel quid and areca nut users, and to design evidence-based screening and early diagnosis programmes to address the growing burden of cancers that are associated with use.

[A Symbol of Connectedness Between the Self and the Tribal Home: Betel Quid in the Lives of Indigenous Taiwanese].

BACKGROUND: Betel quid chewing plays a significant role in the development of oral cancer, yet the high prevalence of betel quid use remains a serious health problem in Taiwan, especially among indigenous Taiwanese. PURPOSE: The present study aimed to understand the reasons behind betel-quid chewing among indigenous Taiwanese people by examining the larger context of their culture and traditions. METHODS: This descriptive, qualitative study recruited ten regular betel quid indigenous chewers using purposive and snowball sampling. Four of the participants were interviewed individually and the remaining six comprised a focus group. Data were collected using in-depth interviews with semi-structured guidelines and analyzed using qualitative content analysis following the process of open coding, identifying codes, giving meaningful names to codes, putting similar codes in categories, and grouping categories into themes. RESULTS: Most of the participants associated betel quid with significant aspects of life, with betel quid symbolizing social belonging. In indigenous cultures, betel nut embodies the enduring companionship of lifelong friends. For the study participants, chewing betel quid was associated with symbolic meanings associated with the following five themes: betel quid chewing helps reinforce self-identity and sense of belonging; betel quid is considered a traditional symbol of love and marriage; betel quid reflects the celebration of simple abundance in indigenous life; betel quid represents an attitude toward life that accentuates the importance of learning to live in everlasting harmony with the environment and nature; and betel quid chewing is used to cure physical ailments and mitigate dental problems. CONCLUSIONS / IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Beliefs related to chewing betel quid deeply impact the attitudes of indigenous people toward this behavior. Because chewing betel quid is an essential part of Taiwanese indigenous community life, the cultural and symbolic meanings of this practice must be taken into consideration when drafting related policies and developing cessation programs in order to help indigenous betel-quid chewers effectively reduce the risk of developing oral cancers.

The role of pain in quitting among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive smokers enrolled in a smoking cessation trial.

BACKGROUND: Smoking rates among people living with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS; PLWHA) are at least twice as high as rates in the general population. Consistent with the reciprocal model of pain and smoking, PLWHA with pain who smoke may use smoking as a means of coping with pain, thus presenting a potential barrier to quitting. The aim of this study is to better understand how pain relates to smoking cessation among 474 HIV-positive adults enrolled in a cell phone-delivered smoking cessation trial. METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned to usual care (cessation advice and self-help materials) or 11 sessions of cell phone-delivered smoking cessation treatment. Pain, as assessed by the Medical Outcomes Study-HIV Health Survey (MOS-HIV), and point prevalence abstinence were collected at the 3-month treatment end and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Self-reported abstinence was biochemically verified by expired carbon monoxide (CO) level of <7 ppm. RESULTS: Using multilevel modeling for binary outcome data, the authors examined the relationship between pain and abstinence, from treatment end through the 12-month follow-up. Consistent with the authors' hypothesis, less pain was associated with greater likelihood of 24-hour (ß = .01, t(651) = 2.53, P = .01) and 7-day (ß = .01, t(651) = 2.35, P = .02) point prevalence abstinence, controlling for age, gender, baseline pain, nicotine dependence, and treatment group. No pain × treatment group interaction was observed. CONCLUSIONS: These results can help us to better identify PLWHA at greater risk for relapse in smoking cessation treatment. Future research may examine the effectiveness of more comprehensive smoking cessation treatment that incorporates aspects of pain management for PLWHA who smoke and have high pain and symptom burden.

Social and Cultural Context of Betel Quid Consumption in Taiwan and Implications for Prevention and Cessation Interventions.

BACKGROUND: In Taiwan, betel quid chewing is a part of social life for chewers. Betel quid itself, with or without tobacco, is a Group 1 human carcinogen. Betel quid chewing has become a severe health threat in Taiwan. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to identify the individual, social, contextual, and cultural factors related to initiation, continuous use, and cessation of betel quid chewing. METHODS: Four focus groups and 15 in depth face-to-face interviews were conducted in 2013 with current and former users of betel quid, members of a community organization located in central Taiwan. A thematic analysis identified themes evident across all groups. RESULTS: Study participants (N = 41) were 66% male and 34% female; mean age was 40.34 ± 9.23 years. Participants stated that betel quid initiation usually occurs during childhood and that the most frequent reasons for chewing were: to follow cultural/social traditions, to achieve an energetic feeling, and to avoid boredom. Participants perceived betel quid chewing as an addiction and a risk factor for cancer and other health-related conditions. The most frequently mentioned barriers to quitting betel quid included: peer pressure and selected withdrawal symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: For the development of culturally relevant and effective cessation interventions for betel quid in Taiwan, it is critical to understand and address perceptions of betel quid chewing and barriers to cessation.

A comparison between Lynch syndrome and sporadic colorectal cancer survivors' satisfaction with their healthcare providers.

This study evaluated provider satisfaction in a sample of colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors with and without Lynch syndrome (LS). Participants were case-case-matched CRC survivors with (n = 75) or without (n = 75) LS (mean age of 55; range: 27-93). Participants completed a mailed questionnaire assessing demographics, clinical characteristics, healthcare utilization, psychosocial variables, and provider satisfaction. LS CRC survivors reported lower provider satisfaction scores on three subscales of the Primary Care Assessment Survey: communication (78.14 vs. 83.96; P < 0.05), interpersonal treatment (78.58 vs. 85.30; P < 0.05), and knowledge of the patient (60.34 vs. 69.86; P < 0.01). Among LS CRC survivors, predictors for mean communication and trust subscale scores were location of treatment and socioeconomic status. Higher mean depression scores also were associated with trust, while social support predicted higher satisfaction with communication. Sporadic CRC survivor satisfaction is driven largely by age (communication, interpersonal treatment) and patient anxiety (communication), while seeing a provider more often was associated with increased satisfaction with knowledge of the patient. LS CRC survivors reported lower levels of provider satisfaction than sporadic CRC survivors. LS survivors who received care at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, a comprehensive cancer center (CCC), reported higher satisfaction than those receiving care at other institutions. Depressive symptoms and socioeconomic status may impact provider satisfaction ratings. Exploration of other potential predictors of provider satisfaction should be examined in this population. Additionally, further research is needed to examine the potential impact of provider satisfaction on adherence to medical recommendations in LS CRC survivors, particularly those being treated outside of CCCs.

The Association of Smoking with English and Spanish Language Use as a Proxy of Acculturation Among Mexican-Americans.

To better characterize the relation of acculturation, based on language use, to smoking status among Mexican-Americans, a large study sample from an ongoing cohort of Mexican-American households in Texas was stratified into current smokers and non-smokers. Four language-use groups were created based on Low/High use of Spanish and English, representing different degrees of acculturation. Participants who reported high English but low Spanish use had the highest smoking prevalence (20.1 %), followed by High English/High Spanish (13.6 %), Low English/High Spanish (8.7 %), and Low English/Low Spanish (6.4 %). Current smokers were more likely to be male, have lower than high school education, currently consume alcohol or had consumed alcohol but quit, and report low Spanish/high English use. Consistent with recent models of acculturation, individuals can differ both in their maintenance of the native language and adoption of a new language and both dimensions are important in predicting tobacco use.

Health-related quality of life in colorectal cancer survivors: are there differences between sporadic and hereditary patients?

PURPOSE: To compare health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors with sporadic CRC to those with hereditary cancer, specifically Lynch syndrome (LS). METHODS: Participants completed a mailed self-administered questionnaire that assessed, among other things, demographics, clinical characteristics, and health-related quality of life. Using a case-case design, CRC survivors with LS or sporadic cancer were matched on age, sex, race/ethnicity, cancer stage, geography, and time since diagnosis. Participants were recruited from patient registries at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MD Anderson) (n = 33 LS; n = 75 sporadic) and through social media (n = 42 LS). The final sample included 71 LS and 74 sporadic CRC survivors. RESULTS: For LS patients, the mean FACT-C HRQoL score was 84.8 (11.9) [Median = 86.0; Interquartile Range-17] compared to sporadic patients mean score of 85.8 (16.7) [Median = 92.0; Interquartile Range-21], which indicates high quality of life for both groups. LS patients and sporadic CRC patients had similar HRQoL mean scores across 7 different HRQoL metrics, with no significant differences between groups. Exploratory regression analyses indicate some differences in known predictors of HRQoL by group despite no bivariate differences. CONCLUSIONS: HRQoL is an important component of survivorship in CRC patients. Given the clinical distinctions between LS and sporadic patients, we expected to find significant differences between these patients. However, the patients' experiences/quality of life does not appear to illustrate such a clear dissimilarity within CRC survivors. Given the limited data in this area, larger studies, ideally with data obtained from multiple sites, is needed to better investigate the alignment between clinical determination and patient experience as well as to explore the relationship between HRQOL, treatment regimens, and health outcomes.

Dental care in Texas: An opportunity for implementing a comprehensive and patient-centric approach with special emphasis on cancer patients and survivors.

OBJECTIVE: To examine practices of dentists in Texas providing dental/oral care to cancer patients. METHOD: Dental providers in Texas were invited via email to participate in an exploratory cross-sectional study. A non-probability voluntary convenience sampling procedure was used to recruit the sample. The online, anonymous, self-reported survey included questions to capture demographics, type of dental practice, services provided, and number of cancer patients. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of The university of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. RESULT: A total of 655 dentists completed the questionnaire items. Results revealed that 62% of the respondents were 51-65 years old, predominantly (68%) male, Caucasian (81%) with their dental degrees awarded in the state of Texas (77%). 91% of the dentists provide dental care to patients who are currently undergoing cancer treatment or have a history of cancer. However, 80% of the dental providers do not teach oral self-exam to their patients, which may include cancer survivors or those undergoing cancer treatment, while 32% dentists do not deliver brief interventions for effectively motivating and assisting tobacco users to quit. CONCLUSION: Because Texas, especially Houston, is known for world-class cancer care, dentists in the state are more likely to provide dental care to oncologic patients, especially emergency dental procedures in cancer patients facing some of the side effects of cancer treatment. Careful monitoring of oral health and reducing tobacco use are especially important during and after cancer therapy to prevent, detect, and treat complications as soon as possible. A further step in oral care for cancer patients and survivors is to train patients how to perform regular oral self-examination and to provide tobacco users with cessation counseling as part of their dental/oral treatment. These simple but comprehensive approaches, along with regular dental visits, will positively impact the health-related outcomes for cancer patients, enhancing both survival and quality of life.

Natural language use and couples' adjustment to head and neck cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This multimethod prospective study examined whether emotional disclosure and coping focus as conveyed through natural language use are associated with the psychological and marital adjustment of head and neck cancer patients and their spouses. METHOD: One-hundred twenty-three patients (85% men; age X¯ = 56.8 years, SD = 10.4) and their spouses completed surveys prior to, following, and 4 months after engaging in a videotaped discussion about cancer in the laboratory. Linguistic inquiry and word count (LIWC) software assessed counts of positive/negative emotion words and first-person singular (I-talk), second person (you-talk), and first-person plural (we-talk) pronouns. Using a grounded theory approach, discussions were also analyzed to describe how emotion words and pronouns were used and what was being discussed. RESULTS: Emotion words were most often used to disclose thoughts/feelings or uncertainty about the future, and to express gratitude or acknowledgment to one's partner. Although patients who disclosed more negative emotion during the discussion reported more positive mood following the discussion (p < .05), no significant associations between emotion word use and patient or spouse psychological and marital adjustment were found. Patients used significantly more I-talk than spouses and spouses used significantly more you-talk than patients (ps < .01). Patients and spouses reported more positive mood following the discussion when they used more we-talk. They also reported less distress at the 4-month follow-up when their partners used more we-talk during the discussion (p < .01). CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that emotional disclosure may be less important to one's cancer adjustment than having a partner who one sees as instrumental to the coping process. (PsycINFO Database Record

Attentional bias to smoking and other motivationally relevant cues is affected by nicotine exposure and dose expectancy.

We investigated the effects of acute nicotine dose and expected dose on attentional bias (AB) to smoking and affective cues in overnight nicotine-deprived smokers (n=51; 24 women) using a balanced placebo design, which counterbalanced given nicotine dose (Given-NIC vs. Given-DENIC) with instructed nicotine dose expectancy (Told-NIC vs. Told-DENIC). Before and after smoking a study cigarette, smokers completed a vigilance task where they pressed buttons to every third consecutive even or odd digit, while ignoring intermittent smoking, pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral picture distracters. We examined the early posterior negativity (EPN) and late positive potential (LPP) components of the event-related potentials (ERPs) to the distracters, reaction time (RT) to the target digits, and ratings of the study cigarettes. The EPN was sensitive to both given and instructed nicotine dose, while the instructed dose moderated the impact of given dose for the LPP. The RT metrics were sensitive to given but not to instructed dose. The effects of given dose on ratings following cigarette smoking (e.g. enjoyment) were moderated by the instructed dose. The ERP findings suggest that the anticipated effects of nicotine improve attention much like receiving actual nicotine.

Correlates of Sun Protection and Sunburn in Children of Melanoma Survivors.

INTRODUCTION: Sunburns during childhood increase melanoma risk. Children of melanoma survivors are at higher risk, but little is known about their sunburn and sun protection. One study showed that almost half of melanoma survivors' children experienced sunburn in the past year. This study evaluated sunburn and sun protection in melanoma survivors' children, and relevant survivor characteristics from Social Cognitive Theory and the Health Belief Model. METHODS: Melanoma survivors (N=340) were recruited from a comprehensive cancer center. Survivors completed a baseline questionnaire administered by telephone to report on the behavior of their children (N=340) as part of an RCT of a sun protection intervention. Data were collected in 2008 and analyzed in 2015. RESULTS: In the prior 6 months, 28% of children experienced sunburn. "Always" or "frequent" sun protection varied by behavior: sunscreen, 69%; lip balm, 15%; wide-brimmed hats, 9%; sleeved shirts, 28%; pants, 48%; sunglasses, 10%; shade, 33%; and limiting time outdoors, 45%. Survivors' sunburn and sun protection were positively associated with these outcomes in children. Correlates of sunburn also included older child age and higher risk perceptions. Correlates of sun protection behaviors included younger child age; stronger intentions, higher self-efficacy, and more positive outcome expectations about sun protection; and greater number of melanomas in survivors. CONCLUSIONS: Melanoma survivors may have a heightened awareness of the importance of their children's sun protection, but their children are not routinely protected. Correlates of children's sunburn and sun protection suggest subgroups of survivors to target with interventions to improve sun protection.

Research Priorities, Measures, and Recommendations for Assessment of Tobacco Use in Clinical Cancer Research.

There is strong evidence that cigarette smoking causes adverse outcomes in people with cancer. However, more research is needed regarding those effects and the effects of alternative tobacco products and of secondhand smoke, the effects of cessation (before diagnosis, during treatment, or during survivorship), the biologic mechanisms, and optimal strategies for tobacco dependence treatment in oncology. Fundamentally, tobacco is an important source of variation in clinical treatment trials. Nevertheless, tobacco use assessment has not been uniform in clinical trials. Progress has been impeded by a lack of consensus regarding tobacco use assessment suitable for cancer patients. The NCI-AACR Cancer Patient Tobacco Use Assessment Task Force identified priority research areas and developed recommendations for assessment items and timing of assessment in cancer research. A cognitive interview study was conducted with 30 cancer patients at the NIH Clinical Center to evaluate and improve the measurement items. The resulting Cancer Patient Tobacco Use Questionnaire (C-TUQ) includes "Core" items for minimal assessment of tobacco use at initial and follow-up time points, and an "Extension" set. Domains include the following: cigarette and other tobacco use status, intensity, and past use; use relative to cancer diagnosis and treatment; cessation approaches and history; and secondhand smoke exposure. The Task Force recommends that assessment occur at study entry and, at a minimum, at the end of protocol therapy in clinical trials. Broad adoption of the recommended measures and timing protocol, and pursuit of the recommended research priorities, will help us to achieve a clearer understanding of the significance of tobacco use and cessation for cancer patients.