2022 World Conference on Lung Cancer (Posters)-P1.02-04. Spatial Access to Lung Screening in British Columbia, Canada

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A study was conducted to examine the spatial access to lung cancer screening sites in British Columbia, Canada. The researchers used a population-based cohort of lung cancer cases as a proxy for the population eligible for screening. They found that the majority of cases were within a 20-minute drive of a screening site, with most of these cases residing in urban areas. However, a small proportion of cases, mostly from rural and remote areas, had travel times of 60 minutes or more. Situational vulnerability, as measured by socioeconomic factors, was associated with longer drive times.<br /><br />The study highlighted the need to ensure equal accessibility to organized lung screening across different population groups. The researchers suggested that these findings can inform the planning and implementation of lung cancer screening programs. They also noted that while US studies have reported that most of the target population for screening are within close proximity to a screening site, few studies have examined the socioeconomic characteristics of areas with poor spatial access.<br /><br />The limitations of the study include its descriptive nature and the lack of data on smoking history at the individual level. The researchers suggested that additional analyses are needed to investigate the relationships while adjusting for important confounders.<br /><br />Overall, this study provides important insights into the spatial access to lung cancer screening in British Columbia. It highlights the need to address disparities in access to screening services and suggests that targeting screening services based on lung cancer prevalence may be more effective than targeting based on age and smoking history alone.

Asset Subtitle

Stephen Lam, Canada

Meta Tag

Speaker Stephen Lam, Canada

Topic Early Detection and Screening - Implementation

Keywords

lung cancer screening

spatial access

British Columbia

Canada

population-based cohort

urban areas

rural and remote areas

situational vulnerability

socioeconomic factors

equal accessibility