Developing a Strategy to Increase Lung Cancer Screening in Areas of Need

Lung cancer screening (LCS) rates are low, and lung cancer mortality is high in the United States. This report describes a strategy that health systems can use to identify LCS areas of need and engage associated primary care providers and patients in screening. A research team from Jefferson Health (JH), a large, urban health system, used geocoded standardized lung cancer mortality rates (SMRs) to identify zip codes in Philadelphia where lung cancer mortality is high. In addition, health system electronic medical record data were used to identify primary care practices serving these areas. The study also developed an online program to train providers in shared decision making (SDM) about LCS. Finally, primary care leaders were interviewed to learn about training obstacles and opportunities. The JH research team identified 8 high-SMR zip codes and 8 practices with patients from those areas. Working with the American College of Chest Physicians and the National Lung Cancer Round Table, the authors developed a free, online, accredited course to train providers in patient education, values elicitation, and decision support for LCS. Interview analyses with practice leaders encouraged the health system to incentivize provider training and use of SDM tools in practice. Health systems can implement a systematic approach to identify LCS areas of need and train primary care providers to engage patients in SDM about LCS. Research is needed to implement such an approach and evaluate the program's impact on patient engagement, screening, and related outcomes among patients' diverse populations.