2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) - Posters-P2.16G.02 "It's Like A Donut!"- Veteran Perspectives of Lung Cancer Screening with Low Dose CT

Pdf Summary

The study, funded by the Association of VA Hematology and Oncology's "VALIANT" study and other sponsors, explores U.S. Veterans' perspectives on low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung cancer screening within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Conducted through telephone interviews from January to August 2021, the research focuses on understanding barriers to accessing LDCT screenings and solicits suggestions for improving access and reducing impediments.<br /><br />Key themes from the qualitative data emphasize various barriers and possible solutions across individual, interpersonal, organizational, and societal levels. At the individual level, a significant barrier is the lack of awareness and understanding about the LDCT screening process among Veterans, suggesting a need for increased educational efforts. Interpersonally, the patient-provider relationship is critical; enhancing discussions about lung cancer screening during annual visits could potentially improve screening rates.<br /><br />Organizational barriers include concerns about the screening environment that may trigger post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among Veterans, suggesting a need for better communication about the testing process and improvements in the physical settings where screenings are conducted. Societal barriers, such as geographic rurality, hinder access for older Veterans, who may have difficulties traveling. Here, providing mobile screening services in rural areas is recommended.<br /><br />The study underscores the increased risk of lung cancer in Veterans due to higher smoking rates and exposure to hazardous substances during military service, highlighting the importance of LDCT screenings as a preventive measure. The research recommends enhancing educational initiatives, involving care providers in promoting screenings, and testing the acceptability of suggested strategies to improve screening uptake. Continued studies on the effectiveness of these strategies are advocated to improve early detection of lung cancer among Veterans.

Asset Subtitle

Camden Castagna-McLeod

Meta Tag

Speaker Camden Castagna-McLeod

Topic Patient Advocacy

Keywords

Veterans

LDCT screening

lung cancer

barriers

Veterans Health Administration

patient-provider relationship

PTSD

geographic rurality

educational initiatives

mobile screening services