Invitation to participate in SCANS:
Survey on Smoking Cessation Approaches in Head and Neck Cancer Settings |
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Dear Colleague,
You are receiving this invitation because you are registered as a member of a head-and-neck cancer scientific society/working group (e.g., EORTC-HNCG, EHNS, HNCIG) that has kindly agreed to circulate the SCANS survey among its members involved in the care of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
We would like to invite your center to contribute one response to a brief global survey (≈20 minutes) on how smoking assessment and smoking-cessation support are integrated into routine clinical care for patients with HNSCC.
Purpose of the survey
SCANS aims to describe whether, and in what way, oncology and head-and-neck cancer centers integrate smoking-cessation interventions into the clinical care pathway, and which strategies are currently used across different settings. Evidence shows that cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for head and neck cancer and that continued smoking after diagnosis is associated with worse outcomes, whereas quitting is associated with improved survival and better overall outcomes. However, published literature still provides only a partial picture of how tobacco use is addressed along the care pathway in oncology centers worldwide. By mapping current practice, SCANS seeks to describe existing organizational models and approaches that may help inform future shared recommendations.
What participation involves
SCANS is a cross-sectional observational study based on an online questionnaire about your center’s current practice.
The questionnaire covers:
- assessment and documentation of smoking status at diagnosis;
- exploration of patients’ intention to quit and need for support;
- availability of structured smoking-cessation programs or dedicated clinics;
- interventions offered in practice (e.g., brief counselling, intensive behavioural support, pharmacological treatments, referral to external services);
- clinicians’ views on the impact of smoking during and after treatment.
Please feel free to forward this invitation to other colleagues working in this field.
How to participate?
Survey link: https://forms.gle/mL5A6Ta6V3G3raa6A
The survey will remain open for three months, until the 30th of June, 2026.
Thank you for considering participation. Your input will be valuable to map real-world practice and support future improvements in tobacco treatment integration within HNSCC care.
Kind regards,
Marco Del Riccio
Assistant Professor,
Department of Health Sciences
University of Florence, Italy
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| Ethics and confidentiality |
The project was reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Florence with a positive opinion (Approval No. 457, 19 January 2026; Committee established by Rector’s Decree No. 1583/2025, protocol No. 0375872, 23 December 2025).
Responses will be analysed and reported in aggregated form. Any contact details provided at the end of the questionnaire (only optional) will be used only to clarify responses and/or to invite participants to an optional qualitative follow-up and will not be shared outside the study team.
By accessing the survey link, you will find the full participant information sheet and the informed consent form; you will be asked to confirm your informed consent electronically before starting the questionnaire. |
| Scientific responsibility, promoter, and study team |
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Scientific Lead / Principal Investigator:
Marco Del Riccio (Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Italy).
Promoter / coordinating institution:
University of Florence – Department of Health Sciences (Italy).
Core research group:
Marco Del Riccio (University of Florence, Italy); Saverio Caini (Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical Network – ISPRO, Italy); Pierluigi Bonomo (Radiation Oncology, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy); Viola Salvestrini (Radiation Oncology, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy); Chiara Cresci (Anti-smoking Center, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy); Salvatore Cardellicchio (Anti-smoking Center, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy); Emma Papini (University of Florence, Italy); Guglielmo Bonaccorsi (University of Florence, Italy); Silke Tribius (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer - Head and Neck Cancer Group); Markus Blaurock (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer - Head and Neck Cancer Group); Marco Ferrari (young - European Head and Neck Society); Carlos Estomba (young - European Head and Neck Society); Petr Szturz (Head and Neck Cancer International Group - Young Group), Alexander Rühle (Head and Neck Cancer International Group - Young Group), Zsuzsie Iyizoba (Head and Neck Cancer International Group - Young Group).
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