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A groundbreaking study led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reveals that smokers undergoing lung cancer screenings have a significantly improved chance of quitting when provided with integrated care. This care, which includes medication and comprehensive counseling with tobacco treatment specialists, was found to nearly double the odds of quitting smoking compared to other cessation methods.
Published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the study tracked 630 current smokers who were eligible for lung cancer screening. Results showed that over 30% of participants who received integrated care remained abstinent from smoking after six months.
Dr. Paul Cinciripini, principal investigator and chair of Behavioral Science at MD Anderson, emphasized the potential of lung cancer screening as a pivotal moment to assist smokers in their quitting journey. “For those who smoke, lung cancer screening presents a critical opportunity for us to support them in quitting,” he said. “Our study demonstrates that providing access to effective medications and trained tobacco cessation specialists offers the greatest chance at successfully quitting and, hopefully, avoiding the potential of lung cancer.”
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with tobacco use responsible for 85% of cases. Despite the serious risks, the average smoker attempts to quit multiple times before succeeding, underscoring the importance of supportive cessation programs.
The study participants, recruited from Houston between 2017 and 2021, were primarily over 50 years old and smoked about 20 cigarettes per day. The research divided participants into three groups, each receiving different forms of cessation support: a quitline referral and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), a quitline referral plus NRT or prescription medication from a lung cancer screening clinician, or integrated care which combined NRT or pharmacotherapy with counseling from tobacco treatment specialists and physicians.
At the three-month mark, the integrated care group showed the highest quit rate at 37.1%, compared to 27.1% in the group receiving quitline referrals plus medication, and 25.2% in the quitline-only group. By six months, integrated care maintained the highest success rate with 32.4% still abstaining from smoking, compared to 27.6% in the referral-plus-medication group and 20.5% in the quitline-only group.
“Facilities equipped to provide dedicated and integrated care should prioritize doing so to offer patients the best opportunity for smoking cessation and improved health outcomes,” Dr. Cinciripini urged. He also noted that this model could prove effective beyond the screening environment, benefiting patients in post-traumatic stress clinics, as well as those with cancer, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes.
However, the study had limitations, including a predominately white participant pool and a lack of carbon monoxide (CO) abstinence verification due to COVID restrictions. Despite this, the results across different subgroups were consistent, further validating the effectiveness of integrated care.
As the study points to, the opportunity for integrated care during lung cancer screenings may not only improve smokers’ chances of quitting but could also save lives by preventing tobacco-related illnesses, including lung cancer.
Reference: JAMA Internal Medicine (2025), jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/ainternmed.2024.7288
