Impact on patient attitudes towards lung cancer screening and smoking cessation with radiology consultation: Pilot survey project

Abstract

Purpose

We developed a novel patient-radiologist consultation for patients scheduled for lung cancer screening (LCS). We hypothesized that this intervention would improve patient attitudes towards LCS adherence and smoking cessation.

Methods

This quality improvement project enrolled 38 LCS patients (a majority were African American) and included 20 current and 18 former smokers. The intervention, a 5–10 min consultation with a radiologist who provided preliminary interpretation of pertinent imaging findings in conjunction with smoking cessation counseling, took place in the radiology reading room immediately after the low dose computed tomography (LDCT) patient scan. Pre- and post-intervention surveys assessed patient attitudes towards LCS and smoking cessation.

Results

All recruited patients consented to participate in this project. Regarding viewing their LCS imaging, 86.8% (33/38) expressed general interest initially, with 100.0% (38/38) being more interested afterwards. On LCS logistics, 71.1% (27/38) reported prior knowledge at baseline, while 89.5% (34/38) reported being more informed following the intervention. Among current smokers, 90.0% (18/20) were already motivated towards quitting smoking at baseline, with 100.0% (20/20) exiting the intervention being more interested in doing so. Regarding smoking cessation resources, 95.0% (19/20) were interested in accessing such resources at baseline, and 90.0% (18/20, 2 were same/neutral) were more interested afterwards.

Conclusions

Patients’ attitudes towards LCS and self-reported interest in quitting smoking were directionally higher after the consultation than at baseline. Incorporating LCS consultations with radiologists as part of patient-centered care provides a resource to educate patients on their own LCS imaging findings while promoting LCS adherence and smoking cessation.