Colonoscopy screening: Innovative intervention point for tobacco cessation

Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States, with smoking contributing to 443,000 deaths annually. Smoking cessation can greatly reduce health risks and increase quality years of life. Tailored interventions in health care settings are recommended as part of the CDC's best practices for tobacco control. Data was collected as part of a Bankhead-Coley study assessing patients undergoing colorectal screenings about their expectations, concerns, understanding of the procedure and perceived health status. Persons waiting for colonoscopy screening were surveyed (n=1113). Differences between current smokers and nonsmokers were analyzed (one-way between subjects ANOVA). Results revealed poorer self-reported health by smokers compared to nonsmokers based on the following questions: days experiencing poor physical health (mean 9.1 vs. 5.4; p<.05), days experiencing poor mental health (mean 8.2 vs. 4.3; p<.05), and days in which pain influenced usual activities (mean 7.3 vs. 4.0; p<.05). Smokers are significantly more likely to report poorer health status on multiple factors compared to nonsmokers. Providing tailored cessation messages to smokers receiving colonoscopy screenings may be an effective intervention point.