[ABSTRACT]. Objective. To assess the characteristics,
self-reported
tobacco use,
knowledge, and
perceptions about smok- ing cessation among
cancer care providers (CCPs), as well as perceived barriers to inform interventions that can potentially improve quitting rates and the
prognosis of
cancer patients in
Latin America.
Methods. A
cross-sectional study was conducted among 996 CCPs in six
cancer institutions located in Argen- tina,
Brazil,
Colombia,
Mexico, and
Peru. An online
survey consisting of 28 close-ended questions adapted from the 2012 International
Association for the Study of
Lung Cancer survey and the Global
Adult Tobacco
Survey was administered. Results. The majority of CCPs, ranging from 86.1% in
Mexico to 95.9% in
Brazil, agreed or strongly agreed that
smoking cessation should be integrated into
cancer treatment. However, inadequate
training on
smoking cessation was reported by 66.9%, 69.4%, 70.4%, 72.9%, 85.8%, and 86.4% in
Mexico,
Colombia (Floridab- lanca),
Argentina,
Peru,
Brazil, and
Colombia (Medellín), respectively, and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Moreover, current
cigarette smoking prevalence among CCPs was 2.5% in
Brazil, 4.6% in
Peru, 6.3% in
Colombia (Floridablanca), 10.4% in
Colombia (Medellín), 11.5% in
Mexico, and 15.1% in
Argentina, showing a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). Conclusions. Efforts in
Latin America should be geared toward assisting CCPs with their quitting efforts and
training in
smoking cessation practices aimed at achieving a better
prognosis and improving
cancer patients’
quality of life.