Smoking Behaviour after Laryngectomy

Background: Tobacco smoking is an important risk factor for laryngeal cancer. Aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of smoking and to identify factors that can promote tobacco abstinence. Patients and Methods: In a multi-centre cross-sectional study, 187 patients after laryngectomy were surveyed regarding their smoking behaviour. Instruments used were the questionnaire "Quality of Life after Laryngectomy" (Ackersta. & Hilgers) and the "Questionnaire of Health Behaviour " ("Fragebogen zur Erfassung des Gesundheitsverhaltens", Dlugosch & Krieger). Results: Life time prevalence of tobacco smoking was 89%, whereas current prevalence was only 6%. None of the laryngectomees believed tobacco consumption to be safe. 24% thought that their tumour was caused mainly by smoking, although the current prevalence of smoking was not related to that number. 74% of all ex-smokers had stopped smoking at the time of the laryngectomy. Conclusions: Only a small fraction of laryngectomised patients do smoke several years after the operation. Anti-tobacco interventions should therefore be focused on high risk persons, not on the entire patient population.