Formative Research on Lung Cancer Screening

Proposed Project: Formative Research on Lung Cancer Screening--New--Division of Cancer Prevention and Control (DCPC), National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The value of screening for lung cancer is a topic of scientific debate with important medical and economic consequences. Although chest x-rays (CXR) have been widely used for lung cancer screening, studies have shown that CXR with or without sputum cytology does not reduce mortality from lung cancer. Studies are currently underway to provide more information about the effectiveness of other types of screening tests, such as computed tomography (CT) scans and spiral CT scans. CDC proposes to conduct formative research to gather information from adult health care consumers and primary care physicians about experiences and practices related to lung cancer screening. Information will be collected over a two-year period. Of particular interest are long-term heavy smokers aged 40-70 who are considered high-risk for lung cancer. Information to be collected concerns their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to preventive lung cancer screening and testing.