Tobacco use among cancer survivors reduces the effectiveness of cancer treatments, increases
the risk for additional primary cancers, and increases mortality. Implementation of tobacco
treatment for cancer patients is challenging, but may be improved substantially with
clinically-efficient and sustainable solutions to accurately identify tobacco users, direct
them to evidence-based treatment, and provide demonstrable outcomes for stakeholders.
At UF Health Cancer Center (UFHCC), patient access and utilization of tobacco use treatment
are sub optimal. Further, UFHCC has a largely rural catchment area with a high burden of
tobacco-related disease and mortality. To address this research-to-practice gap using a
mixed-methods approach to assess the relevant contextual factors at UFHCC and evaluate the
feasibility of implementing a multi-level intervention to increase tobacco treatment
utilization and improve health outcomes.
This study uses a mixed methods approach and will inform the design of a pragmatic clinical
trial to improve the delivery of tobacco use treatment services to cancer patients. Guided by
a conceptual model that emphasizes patient, provider, and organizational characteristics, the
study team will identify factors that influence the implementation process at the UFHCC. The
ultimate goal of the proposed research is to provide new knowledge to facilitate the
widespread adoption, implementation, and dissemination and sustained utilization of
evidence-based tobacco use treatments in cancer care settings.