Project 2: Lung cancer screening Awareness Targeted and Tailored to Increase sCrEening (LATTICE)

Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the US and kills more Americans than the next top three cancer types (breast, prostate and colorectal) combined. Currently, 85% of lung cancers are diagnosed when they have already metastasized, resulting in a poor five-year survival of 17%. Fortunately, radiographic screening for lung cancer using Low Dose Computerized Tomography (LDCT) is highly effective at identifying lung tumors at an early stage and is known to improve lung cancer mortality by 20%. Unfortunately, ~10 years after the guidelines released, LCS utilization is woefully low, at <6%. Most individuals eligible for LCS are unaware of or confused or misinformed about (i) how lung cancer screening is performed, (ii) benefits and associated risks of screening, and (iii) causes of and associated risk factors for developing lung cancer. Although previous work has highlighted the effects of communication tools in cancer screenings, what is not known is the availability of geographically tailored awareness and education implementation strategies. Therefore, there is a need to address these issues by developing and delivering regionally tailored awareness strategies. Our overall objective in this application is the development and delivery of a geographically tailored educational strategy to improve early detection of lung cancer in the states of Alabama and Georgia. Aim 1 will adapt and geographically tailor existing lung cancer screening education strategies. We will adapt existing lung cancer screening education materials using Resnicow’s framework will be used to address unique social and cultural factors influencing this group’s screening participation. Aim 2 will pilot test educational strategy and refine based on input from Community Advisory Board (CAB). We will use Group Concept Mapping with the CAB to determine salient social determinants of lung cancer screening and “map out” salient social factors of early detection educational strategy, as conceptualized by the participants themselves. This proposed work will aid in developing and delivering a geographically tailored educational strategy to improve early detection of lung cancer in the states of Alabama and Georgia.