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Abstract
Black breast and gynecological cancer survivors experience poorer outcomes than their non-Black counterparts. Although multifactorial, one contributor may be cigarette smoking behaviors. The purpose of this study was to identify demographic, clinical, and social drivers of health (SDoH) factors associated with smoking behaviors in Black breast and gynecological cancer survivors.
We conducted a secondary analysis of survey data collected from an ongoing cross-sectional study. Summary statistics (e.g., means, frequencies) were computed for all factors of interest. Chi square test of independence, t test, and logistic regression assessed the associations between demographic, clinical, and SDoH factors (e.g., social support) and the smoking status (ever smoker versus non-smoker). All hypothesis tests were two-sided at a significance level of 0.05.
Among 148 Black breast and gynecological cancer survivors in our study sample, primarily were non-smokers (63.5%), 50 years old or older (60.1%), and had breast cancer (81.1%). When comparing smokers to non-smokers, smokers were more likely to have a high school education or less (31.5% vs.12.8%, respectively) (p=0.02) and to have gynecological cancer (vs. breast) (p< 0.001). In unadjusted analysis, cancer type and education were significantly associated with smoking; however, in the adjusted multivariable model, these associations were no longer significant. Age was the only significant covariate wherein for each additional year of age at cancer diagnosis, the odds of smoking increased by 6% (adjusted Odds Ratio: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01–1.13).
Our findings indicate a need to focus on smoking in older breast and gynecological survivors, particularly as this group is more at risk for other smoking-related chronic conditions and may have smoked longer than their younger counterparts. Future research will require an understanding of the psychology associated with smoking after a cancer diagnosis and the development of tailored methods to engage older survivors in smoking cessation interventions.
Publication Date
2025
Keywords
Black Breast and Gynecological Cancer Survivors, Smoking Behavior
Disciplines
Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies
Current Academic Year
Senior
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Arnethea L. Sutton
Rights
© The Author(s)