Access to smoking cessation supports in cancer care settings in 2022-23
The majority of cancer centres in Quebec offer people with cancer a referral to a community program to quit smoking, with some centres offering a comprehensive smoking cessation program and culturally appropriate supports for people with cancer from Indigenous communities.
People with cancer are asked about their commercial tobacco use and referred to community programs for smoking cessation support, such as Quit Smoking Centres (CAT – ‘Centres d’abandon du tabagisme’) or the provincial quitline (J’ARRÊTE).
Seniors, individuals receiving social assistance and individuals without private health insurance are eligible for free smoking cessation medications.
Impact of funded project (2019-23)
Funding and support enabled two Integrated University Health and Social Services Centres (CIUSSS) – CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal and CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal – to implement and monitor a comprehensive and integrated smoking cessation program at outpatient cancer clinics in three hospitals.
Using the Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation (OMSC), a program designed by the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, the CIUSSS systematized the identification, support, and referral of people with cancer who used commercial tobacco. Using an opt-out approach, people with cancer received behavioural counselling, advice about smoking cessation medications and follow-up support from a healthcare provider at the cancer centre and/or were referred to a community Quit Smoking Centre (CAT) for additional, ongoingsupport. The CIUSSS are committed to sustaining the program and expanding it to other areas in the region.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on this project, particularly related to staff turnover and redeployments, which delayed the implementation of the program.
