Design of a Community-Based Lung Cancer Education, Prevention, and Screening Program

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Cancer Prevention
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer has very low uptake.
• Disparities in screening access exist among racial/ethnic minorities and lower socioeconomic status groups.
• Effective strategies are needed to promote lung cancer screening in underserved communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the design and implementation of the cancer-Community Awareness Access Research and Education (c-CARE) program.
• To increase community awareness and knowledge of lung cancer screening.
• To promote early detection and prevention behaviors by connecting high-risk individuals to LDCT screening and tobacco cessation services.

Main Methods:

• The cancer-Community Awareness Access Research and Education (c-CARE) program trained community health workers to deliver an educational intervention across 12 community sites.
• The Health Belief Model guided intervention development and evaluation.
• The program aimed to identify and connect high-risk or nicotine-dependent individuals to low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening and/or smoking cessation resources.

Main Results:

• The study describes the implementation strategies of the c-CARE program.
• The program's aims focus on improving knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding lung cancer.
• The intervention seeks to increase early detection and prevention behaviors through targeted outreach and referrals.

Conclusions:

• The c-CARE program's community-based approach, utilizing community health workers, offers a model for increasing lung cancer screening uptake.
• Educational interventions are crucial for addressing disparities in cancer screening.
• Successful implementation could inform broader dissemination strategies for high-risk populations.