Improving utilization of lung cancer screening through incorporating a video-based educational tool into smoking cessation counseling

Abstract Background Lung cancer screening (LCS) with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) reduces lung cancer mortality in high-risk patients, but most of those eligible are not referred for screening and most eligible smokers are not aware about LCS. Smoking cessation counseling may be an opportune time to educate smokers about LCS. Here we investigate the effect of LCS educational information on LDCT utilization and smoking cessation in LCS-eligible patients receiving smoking cessation counseling. Patients and Methods We randomized 1281 smokers age 55-80 who underwent smoking cessation services to view a web-based educational video about LCS (n=1026) or to receive usual care (n=255). Outcomes included the utilization of chest CT scan during 6 months of follow-up, responses to survey questions and patient-reported abstinence from smoking at 6 months. Results 146 participants (14%) completed the video. Overall, 87 participants (8.5%) in the intervention group underwent any chest CT and 37 (3.6%) underwent LDCT compared with 22 (8.6%) and 11 (4.3%) in the control group during the 6-month follow-up period (p=0.94 and 0.59 respectively). Among participants who completed watching the video, 27 (18.5%) underwent any chest CT and 13 (8.9%) underwent LDCT, compared with 22 (8.6%) and 11 (4.3%) in controls during follow-up (p=0.0037 and 0.062, respectively). There was no difference in abstinence from smoking between groups. Conclusion A LCS educational intervention may be effective in improving utilization of LDCT in eligible individuals who currently smoke at the time of smoking cessation counseling. Further research on the effect of LCS education in the context of smoking cessation counseling is needed.