Equitable implementation of lung cancer screening: avoiding its potential to mirror existing inequities among people who use tobacco.

PURPOSE: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, but the advent of lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography offers a tremendous opportunity to improve lung cancer outcomes. Unfortunately, implementation of lung cancer screening has been hampered by substantial barriers and remains suboptimal. Specifically, the commentary emphasizes the intersectionality of smoking history and several important sociodemographic characteristics and identities that should inform lung cancer screening outreach and engagement efforts, including socioeconomic considerations (e.g., health insurance status), racial and ethnic identity, LGBTQ + identity, mental health history, military experience/veteran status, and geographic residence in addressing specific community risk factors and future interventions in efforts to make strides toward equitable lung cancer screening. METHODS: Members of the Equitable Implementation of Lung Cancer Screening Interest Group with the Cancer Prevention and Control Network (CPCRN) provide a critical commentary based on existing literature regarding smoking trends in the US and lung cancer screening uptake to propose opportunities to enhance implementation and support equitable distribution of the benefits of lung cancer screening. CONCLUSION: The present commentary utilizes information about historical trends in tobacco use to highlight opportunities for targeted outreach efforts to engage communities at high risk with information about the lung cancer screening opportunity. Future efforts toward equitable implementation of lung cancer screening should focus on multi-level implementation strategies that engage and work in concert with community partners to co-create approaches that leverage strengths and reduce barriers within specific communities to achieve the potential of lung cancer screening.

Predictors of Discussing Lung Cancer Screening with a Health Care Provider Among Current and Former Smokers in HINTS: A Secondary Data Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Lung cancer screening is greatly underutilized among those who may benefit from early detection. METHODS: We analysed data from a subsample (n = 929) of the 2020 Health Information National Trends Survey. We tested multivariable logistic regression models of associations of cancer worry, information insufficiency, and perceived information gathering capacity with reports of having discussed lung cancer screening with a health care provider. RESULTS: Among former smokers, no factors were associated significantly with lung cancer screening information seeking. However, for current smokers, extreme cancer worry was positively and significantly associated with having discussed lung cancer screening with a health care provider (OR: 12.95; 95% CI: 2.11, 79.39). CONCLUSION: To increase uptake of lung cancer screening, public health campaigns and healthcare providers will face the dual challenge of increasing perceived need for screening among former smokers while directing current smokers with high levels of worry to see the benefits of early detection.