Repeal of smokefree laws is set to preserve inequities

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Clinical comment

Repeal of smokefree laws is set to preserve inequities

By Amelia Jenkinson, Cathy Stephenson and Swee Tan
Woman_Smoking_CR_lilartsy_on_unsplash
Remind patients that smoking tobacco is the main risk factor for head and neck cancer [Image: lilartsy on Unsplash]

This article looks at the detrimental effects that repealing smokefree legislation will have on the head and neck cancer landscape

This Practice article has been endorsed by the RNZCGP and has been approved for up to 0.25 credits for continuing professional development purposes (1, Educate small, BACK panel - grey
References

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3. Caini S, Del Riccio M, Vettori V, et al. Post-diagnosis smoking cessation and survival of patients with head and neck cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Cancer 2022;127(11):1907–15.

4. Soeberg M, Blakely T, Sarfati D, et al. Cancer Trends: Trends in cancer survival by ethnic and socioeconomic group, New Zealand 1991–2004. Wellington, NZ: University of Otago and Ministry of Health; 2012.

5. Gurney J, Stanley J, Jackson C, Sarfati D. Stage at diagnosis for Māori cancer patients: disparities, similarities and data limitations. N Z Med J 2020;133(1508):43–64.

6. Ministry of Health. New Zealand Health Survey Annual Data Explorer. December 2023.