Barriers, Facilitators, and Suggested Interventions for Lung Cancer Screening Among a Rural Screening-Eligible...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Oncology
• Rural Health Disparities

Background:

• Rural populations experience disproportionately high rates of late-stage lung cancer incidence and mortality.
• Lung cancer screening (LCS) is recommended for early detection and mortality reduction, but uptake remains low in rural areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify barriers, facilitators, and interventions for increasing LCS uptake among eligible rural adults.
• To understand the perspectives of a rural, screening-eligible population regarding LCS.

Main Methods:

• A mixed methods concurrent embedded design study.
• Qualitative data from 5 focus groups (n=23) and quantitative survey data were collected and integrated.
• Focus group transcripts were analyzed using a mixed deductive and inductive coding approach.

Main Results:

• Key barriers to LCS include lack of knowledge, absence of healthcare provider recommendations, and transportation challenges.
• Facilitators for LCS include receiving a provider recommendation and a strong desire to know screening results.
• Participants suggested improving provider education on LCS and community outreach to boost awareness and access.

Conclusions:

• The rural screening-eligible population shows receptiveness to LCS.
• Patient-level factors such as knowledge, motivation, provider recommendation, and transportation are crucial for increasing rural LCS uptake.
• Targeted interventions addressing these factors are essential for improving LCS rates in rural communities.