Pathways to Prevention (P2P) Program

Vani N. Simmons, Ph.D.

Dr. Simmons

Associate Professor, Health Outcomes and Behavior Department
Moffitt Cancer Center

Presentation Abstract

Title: Barriers and Facilitators of Tobacco Cessation Services and Lung Cancer Screening  

Tobacco use continues to be the leading preventable cause of death.  Individuals of low socioeconomic status and racial/ethnic minorities suffer disproportionately from tobacco-related disease outcomes.  At each point in the cancer continuum, unique challenges and circumstances exist that may help to explain the greater cancer burden experienced by these groups.  With respect to smoking cessation intervention,  the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Clinical Practices Guidelines, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence:  2008 Update, summarizes evidence-based treatments and describes a brief intervention model referred to as the “5 As”. Despite the wide-applicability of these guidelines for diverse populations, there has been unequal implementation of these guidelines. In addition, for individuals with limited or no English proficiency, access to smoking cessation interventions are lacking and additional barriers exist. Significant racial health disparities exist in the incidence and mortality of the two most strongly associated tobacco-related cancers—lung and head and neck cancer.  There is a need to elucidate the causes of these disparities, including the role of specific smoking behavior patterns and beliefs.  Moreover, as newer cancer screening tools become available such as lung cancer screening, attention must be paid to prevent the widening of health disparities due to unequal implementation and access issues.  Finally, there is a need to examine how awareness and use of electronic cigarettes varies by sociodemographic group and may impact health disparities. 

About Dr. Simmons

Vani N. Simmons is Associate Member of the Health Outcomes and Behavior Department in the Moffitt Cancer Center. Her graduate training was in clinical psychology, followed by postdoctoral training in behavioral oncology.

Dr. Simmons has been involved in tobacco research since 1998 and has directed observational, laboratory-based, and intervention studies. With funding from the National Cancer Institute, Florida Department of Health, and March of Dimes, she has experience developing smoking cessation and relapse-prevention interventions. 

Dr. Simmons did not disclose any conflicts of interest for this workshop.

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