Barbershop-based lung health navigation for Black men: A feasibility study

Black men experience a disproportionate burden of lung cancer yet remain underrepresented in screening and smoking cessation programs. Community-based approaches combining culturally relevant information with patient navigation may help address these gaps.

This Phase II developmental feasibility study examined a culturally targeted, navigator-led lung health intervention to support knowledge, decision-making, and early engagement with lung cancer screening and cessation resources among Black men who smoke (March 2023-June 2024). Forty participants recruited through barbershop outreach completed three staged sessions-an in-person educational visit with targeted materials and a screening decision aid, followed by brief navigation contacts. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 6-week follow-up.

Participants demonstrated improvements in lung cancer-related knowledge, decisional clarity, and readiness to consider screening and cessation. Satisfaction with targeted materials and navigator support was high. Nearly half reported contacting healthcare providers regarding screening, and some scheduled low-dose CT examinations, while Quitline engagement remained modest.

Findings support the feasibility and acceptability of culturally targeted navigation delivered in barbershops and may strengthen early behavioral engagement along the lung health continuum for Black men. Larger controlled trials with longer follow-up are needed to evaluate sustained behavioral outcomes.