[Script concordance test for knowledge assessment of lung cancer screening]

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Oncology
• Medical Education

Background:

• Annual low-dose CT screening for lung cancer is proven to decrease mortality.
• A French survey indicated a need for enhanced clinician education on lung cancer screening protocols.
• Script concordance tests (SCT) are valuable for evaluating clinical reasoning in uncertain situations and are novel in French continuing medical education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and relevance of using SCT for evaluating clinician knowledge on lung cancer screening.
• To identify areas where clinician education on lung cancer screening needs improvement.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire comprising 5 multiple-choice questions (MCQ) and 2 SCT scenarios was developed.
• The survey was distributed electronically to clinicians and residents affiliated with the French-Speaking Respiratory Society and the French Young Pulmonologist Association.

Main Results:

• 190 responses were analyzed, revealing that 70% considered mortality reduction the primary measure of screening effectiveness.
• 75% identified low-dose CT scans as the optimal tool for lung cancer screening.
• Knowledge of eligibility criteria (45%) and annual screening frequency (62%) was variable; participation in tumor boards and oncology certification correlated with higher scores.

Conclusions:

• Script concordance tests are feasible and relevant for electronic surveys in continuing medical education.
• There remains a critical need to enhance clinician knowledge regarding lung cancer screening guidelines and practices.