# Tobacco Cessation among American Indian Cancer Survivors in Cherokee Nation

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR · 2020 · $33,292

## Abstract

Abstract
Tobacco use is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the US, accounting for 30% of cancer deaths
and resulting in more than $300 billion in annual health care expenditures and productivity loss. American
Indian (AI) adults continue to have a higher prevalence of tobacco use (32%) compared to any other
race/ethnic group (13%-25%) in the US and experience disproportionate rates of tobacco-related morbidity and
mortality. In addition, AI individuals in Oklahoma have the highest age-adjusted cancer incidence (637 per
100,000) and mortality (255 per 100,000) rates compared to other racial groups. Continued use of tobacco
after a cancer diagnosis increases the risk of secondary cancers and mortality compared to non-tobacco users.
Cherokee Nation is the largest tribe in the United States with more than 378,000 enrolled members, and
reducing tobacco use is one of the tribe's top priorities. Cherokee Nation works with Indian Health Service
(IHS) to provide healthcare services for the AI population within their reservation area. Because of this system,
any referral for specialty care not provided by Cherokee Nation must obtain approval through the IHS
Purchased and Referred Care system, which may complicate oncology care. Furthermore, it is unclear
whether AI cancer survivors routinely receive tobacco cessation treatment during their oncology care or while
receiving primary care within the Cherokee Nation Health System. Our long-term goal is to reduce the
prevalence of tobacco use among cancer survivors in Cherokee Nation. Our study aims to 1) evaluate tobacco
cessation experiences among AI cancer survivors in Cherokee Nation; 2) identify current tobacco cessation
practices in primary care and oncology settings, along with facilitators and barriers to delivering cessation
treatment to Cherokee Nation cancer patients; and 3) develop tailored strategies to increase implementation
and reach of tobacco cessation treatment for cancer survivors in Cherokee Nation. This study will provide
insight into current practices and needs related to tobacco cessation for AI cancer survivors in Cherokee
Nation. This project will provide preliminary data for an R01 proposal to compare the effectiveness of
implementation strategies aimed at improving tobacco cessation treatment provided to cancer survivors. It will
also provide opportunities for future implementation research focused on other evidence-based interventions
for cancer survivors in Cherokee Nation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10056145
- **Project number:** 1P20CA253258-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Amanda E Janitz
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $33,292
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-15 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10056145

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10056145, Tobacco Cessation among American Indian Cancer Survivors in Cherokee Nation (1P20CA253258-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10056145. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*