Low Provider Knowledge Is Associated With Less Evidence-Based Lung Cancer Screening

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Radiology
• Healthcare Policy

Background:

• Lung cancer screening (LCS) with low-dose CT (LDCT) is recommended but underutilized in the US.
• Low provider knowledge of LCS guidelines is a potential barrier to screening implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the hypothesis that low provider knowledge of LCS guidelines is associated with less provider-reported screening with LDCT.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey assessed LCS guideline knowledge among providers treating patients over 50.
• High knowledge was defined by identifying 3 key eligibility criteria; low knowledge was defined by not identifying them.
• Provider-reported LDCT orders/referrals in the past year were the primary outcome.

Main Results:

• 62% of providers demonstrated low LCS knowledge, and 59% reported ordering/referring for LDCT.
• Providers with low knowledge had significantly lower odds of ordering/referring for LDCT (aOR, 0.41).
• Providers with low knowledge were more likely to order screening chest radiographs (aOR, 2.7).

Conclusions:

• Provider knowledge of LCS guidelines is low and directly correlates with LDCT ordering rates.
• Strategies to improve LCS should include provider education and system-level interventions to address knowledge gaps.