Lung cancer screening in Canada: 2021/2022
Smoking cessation referral methods
Helping people quit smoking is a critical part of lung cancer screening. Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, as well as many other cancers and chronic diseases. Quitting smoking reduces people’s risk of getting lung cancer and lowers people’s risk of dying. Learn more about the importance of the importance of smoking cessation.
All lung screening pilots and studies in Canada incorporated smoking cessation into their screening pathways. Three offered smoking cessation services to participants who were eligible for screening and referred ineligible participants to external services. Three referred all participants who smoked to external services.
The use of smoking cessation medications, including prescription medications and nicotine replacement therapy, can more than double quit rates. Learn more about increasing access to smoking cessation medications, and financial access to these medications. Many lung screening pilots and studies offer participants pharmacotherapy to help them quit smoking.
Smoking cessation referral methods for lung screening pilots and studies in Canada
| Title | Smoking cessation referral | Pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation (e.g. at point of care, prescription, etc.) |
|---|---|---|
| BC Lung Screen Trial/Pan-Canadian Early Detection of Lung Cancer Extension Project/International Lung Screen Trial | · Smoking cessation services are offered to all current smokers. · People eligible for screening are offered smoking cessation counselling by the call centre over the telephone and refer to QuitNow. · People ineligible for screening are offered a referral to external smoking cessation services (QuitNow). |
· Free nicotine replacement therapy available in local pharmacies through provincial program. |
| Alberta Lung Cancer Screening Research Study | · All smokers (n~ 400) are invited to participate in RCT that compares Alberta educational resources and counselling services. | · Prescribing or funding of nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) or pharmacological aids to quitting are not available through the program, but the counselor will assist the individual in selecting whether they will use an NRT or prescription cessation medication in their quit plan. · If they plan to use a prescription medication subjects will need to get this from their physician or a prescribing pharmacist. · NRT can be obtained over-the-counter in Alberta and does not require a prescription although some group benefit plans require a prescription for coverage. |
| Ontario Lung Cancer Screening Pilot for People at High Risk and Ontario Lung Screening Program (OLSP) | · Smoking cessation services are offered to all current smokers. · People eligible for screening are offered on-site smoking cessation counselling for at least 10 minutes with a trained counsellor. · People ineligible for screening are offered a referral to external smoking cessation services (e.g., telehealth counselling services). |
· For all current smokers that are eligible for screening and participate in smoking cessation counselling, the smoking cessation counsellor will recommend first-line smoking cessation pharmacotherapy if appropriate, and may either provide a prescription or a recommendation on how to get a prescription (e.g., through participant’s primary care provider or pharmacist). |
| Pan-Canadian Early Detection of Lung Cancer Study | · All smokers were referred to smoking cessation initiatives in their jurisdictions. | · Not specified. |
| Pilot Study by the Centre universitaire de santé McGill (Quebec)* | · All smokers are referred to local online/phone based Ligne J’arrête program/smoking cessation clinic. | · Pharmacotherapy prescription is offered during the on-site visit. |
| Lung Cancer Screening Demonstration Project in Quebec^ | · All smokers are referred to local online/phone based Ligne J’arrête program/smoking cessation clinic. | · Pharmacotherapy prescription is offered during the on-site visit. |
*This project is independent from the pilot being evaluated for implementation by the Ministère de la santé et des services sociaux.
^ Request from the MSSS to IUCPQ-UL to be the leader of the project and through the Quebec Pulmonary Cancer Network