Pamela Marcus

NCI, DCP, BRG

PLCO (Learn more about this study)

2010-0158

Oct 22, 2010

Does compliance with screening exams and forms completion differ by smoking status in PLCO?

Studies demonstrate that smokers, as compared with non-smokers, are more likely to partake in unhealthy behaviors, such as less frequent seat belt use, higher rates of alcohol consumption, as well as less comsumption of fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, researchers commonly assume that cigarette smokers enrolled in clinical trials are less compliant with study procedures than are non-cigarette smokers. While this belief is pervasive, a MEDLINE search conducted recently revealed no studies that have addressed this issue. We propose a detailed examination of the relationship of compliance and smoking status in the PLCO Trial. We will measure compliance by examining adherence to screening exams and measuring rates of completion of self-administered forms. Smoking will be measured as never, former, and current. This project will add to the scientific literature in that it will provide evidence to either support or refute the belief that smokers enrolled in biomedical research are less compliant. It also will provide a measure of how compliant former and current smokers are relative to never smokers. These data will be helpful to researchers planning studies that include smokers, as researchers will be able to use our findings to estimate how compliant their smoking study population is likely to be.