The NCI Cancer Center Cessation Initiative (C3I): Characteristics and reach of tobacco treatment programs among NCI-designated cancer centers in the C3I

Quitting smoking after a cancer diagnosis leads to better outcomes for cancer patients, including lower risk for a second primary cancer and increased survival. However, few cancer patients receive smoking cessation services during their oncology healthcare visits, and disparities in the receipt of such smoking cessation services exist. As part of the Cancer Moonshot, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has dedicated funding to expand and enhance smoking cessation services at NCI-Designated Cancer Centers for all patients who smoke. We report on characteristics of tobacco treatment programs (TTPs) at the 22 Cancer Centers funded through the Cancer Center Cessation Initiative (C3I) for 6 months before funding was awarded (“pre-funding period”), and for 6 months during the first year of funding. We will also report on the second half of the first year of funding. Characteristics measured included referral methods to cessation services (e.g. referrals via electronic health records (EHR)), and types of cessation services offered. TTP reach (the percentage of smokers who engaged in any type of TTP) was calculated overall and by patient demographics for Centers providing aggregate patient data (n=13). Data were collected in 2018. Between the pre-funding period and first year of funding, the number of C3I funded Centers offering in-person smoking cessation counseling increased from 10 to 15 (45.5% to 68.2%). EHR referrals to tobacco treatment programs increased from 31.8% of Centers to 68.2%. Four Centers (18.2%) offered text and web based cessation programs in the first funding year compared with only 1 Center (4.5%) in the pre-funding period. During the first funding period, TTP reach on average was 20.2%, but varied by Center, ranging from 0.5% to 86.5%. During the first funding period, 16.4% of Black, 15.8% of White, 11.8% of Hispanic, 10.6% of Asian, and 6.2% of American Indian/Alaska Native smokers received smoking cessation services. About 13% of smokers aged 18-24 received cessation services, compared with those aged 25-44 (17.7%), 45-64 (22.9%) and 65+ (18.7%). The majority of C3I funded Cancer Centers offered some type of TTP; however, on average only 20% of smokers were reached by a TTP. Further, TTP reach varies by race, ethnicity, and age. The C3I provides an opportunity to improve the reach and effectiveness of smoking cessation services for cancer patients who smoke, and reduce disparities in the receipt of cessation services by providing financial and technical support for Centers to build and implement comprehensive evidence-based smoking cessation programs. Citation Format: Heather D9Angelo, Betsy Rolland, Rob Adsit, Michael Fiore, Marika Rosenblum, Glen Morgan. The NCI Cancer Center Cessation Initiative (C3I): Characteristics and reach of tobacco treatment programs among NCI-designated cancer centers in the C3I [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2433.