Lung Cancer Prevention by Smoking Cessation Treatments -The Significance and Methods of Smoking Cessation Treatment in Medical Settings and Health Check-up Settings Including Cancer Screening-

Abstract

The essence of tobacco use is nicotine dependence. Nicotine dependence is a chronic disease that often requires repeated intervention. There is strong evidence that smoking cessation intervention is effective and cost-effective. In Japan, smoking cessation treatments had not been established, but the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare decided to start health insurance coverage to smoking cessation treatments from April 2006. Future plans call for increased accessibility and effectiveness of smoking cessation services in medical settings, and the initiation and implementation of smoking intervention at health examination and cancer screening, linked with reimbursed medical treatments.