A smoking cessation intervention for head and neck cancer patients: trial design, patient accrual, and characteristics.

This paper describes the aims, study design, and patient accrual and characteristics from an ongoing randomized controlled trial evaluating a surgeon- and dentist-delivered smoking cessation intervention for head and neck cancer patients. Subjects (n = 186) accrued into the trial are profiled in terms of demographics, medical and treatment descriptors, smoking history and behavior at enrollment, and related psychosocial variables (mood, adherence indicators, and alcohol consumption). These patients have long histories of tobacco use, moderate to high levels of nicotine dependence, and a lack of overt mood disturbance and are receptive to behavioral change.