The clinical trial was led by researchers at Cardiff University working with the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Translational Medicine, King’s College London, and Queen Mary University of London, and involved 4,055 participants aged 50 to 75.
The participants were split into two groups. One group underwent a low-grade CT lung scan and the other group did not. Of those smokers who underwent the scan, 10 percent successfully quit smoking after two weeks and 15 percent quit after two years. These rates of quitting were much higher than the control group, where only five percent of participants successfully quit.
Principal investigator Professor John Field explained, “Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. The findings of this study dispute the belief that a negative screening result offers a “license to smoke”. Engaging with lung screening can give smokers an opportunity to access smoking cessation support — at a time when they are likely to be more receptive to offers of help.”
Dr. Kate Brain of Cardiff University added, “Our trial shows that CT lung cancer screening offers a teachable moment for smoking cessation among high-risk groups in the UK. We now need evidence about the best ways of integrating lung cancer screening with stop-smoking support, so that services are designed to deliver the maximum health benefits for current and future generations.”
Tips to quit smoking
Quitting smoking can be a difficult task, but there are several methods you can use to achieve this goal. It’s important to quit smoking because it is linked to several health problems. Your doctors can let you know the options available to help you successfully quit. The following tips will benefit you as well:
• Find a good reason to quit and use that as your motivation and goal
• Prepare yourself prior to going “cold turkey”
• Consider nicotine-replacement therapy
• Ask your doctor about prescription pills
• Use your friends and family as support
• Find helpful ways to relax
• Avoid alcohol and other triggers that may prompt you to smoke
• Give your house a good clean to get rid of the smoke smell
• Even if you don’t succeed the first time, try again
• Start an exercise routine
• Eat more fruits and vegetables
• Reward yourself for staying on track. You’ll save a lot of money by not purchasing cigarettes, so use that money towards something you love to do
Related: Quitting smoking most successful with ‘cold turkey’ method