A randomized pilot study of cognitive-behavioral therapy versus basic health education for smoking cessation among cancer patients

Background: Previously, we have linked theoretically based cognitive and emotional variables to the ability of cancer patients to quit smoking. Purpose: In this study, we evaluated the impact of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which addressed these theoretically derived cognitive and emotional variables linked to tobacco use in this population, for promoting smoking cessation in a sample of cancer patients and assessed longitudinal predictors of smoking cessation. Methods: Cancer patients (N = 109) were randomized to either the theoretically based CBT intervention or to a general health education (GHE) condition, and all patients received nicotine replacement therapy. Results: Contrary to our expectation, no significant difference in 30-day point-prevalence abstinence between the CBT and GHE conditions was detected at either a 1-month (44.9% vs. 47.3%, respectively) or 3-month (43.2% vs. 39.2%, respectively) follow-up evaluation. Higher quit motivation and lower cons of quitting were related to smoking cessation. Conclusions: Implications for the implementation of smoking cessation behavioral treatments in the oncologic context are discussed, as are directions for future research in this area.