LungTalk for Increasing Lung Cancer Screening

Not currently recruiting at 10 trial locations

Overseen By Jamie Ostroff, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Phase < 1

Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Disqualifiers: Lung cancer, Recent chest CT

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to boost awareness about lung cancer screening among eligible women. The focus is on LungTalk, a digital tool providing information through text, audio, video, and animation. It targets women who recently had a mammogram with a non-cancerous result and have a significant smoking history. Ideal participants are women who currently smoke or quit within the last 15 years and have not been screened for lung cancer before. As an Early Phase 1 trial, this research seeks to understand how the LungTalk tool functions in people, offering participants the chance to be among the first to benefit from this innovative approach.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that the LungTalk digital tool is safe?

Research has shown that LungTalk, a digital health tool, has been tested in previous studies. It aims to increase awareness about lung cancer screening. While direct information on safety is limited, LungTalk's web-based nature generally indicates low risk, as it uses digital interactions like text, audio, and video.

Since this trial is in its early stages, safety remains a primary focus. Early trials often assess potential side effects. However, because LungTalk is neither a drug nor a medical procedure, the risk of adverse side effects is likely low. Previous studies have not reported any harmful effects, suggesting that LungTalk is well-tolerated.

For those considering participation in the trial, LungTalk appears safe based on its design and past research. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about LungTalk because it offers a new approach to increasing lung cancer screening rates. Unlike traditional methods that rely mostly on physician recommendations or public health campaigns, LungTalk specifically targets women who have already had a mammogram, using this as a touchpoint to encourage further screening. This strategy could be more effective because it leverages an existing health behavior (getting a mammogram) and connects it directly to lung cancer screening, potentially increasing engagement and compliance. This innovative approach could lead to earlier detection and treatment of lung cancer, ultimately saving lives.

What evidence suggests that the LungTalk digital tool is effective for increasing lung cancer screening awareness among women?

Research shows that LungTalk, the tool under study in this trial, is a promising method for increasing lung cancer screening. Studies have found that similar tools, which provide personalized information and support, improve communication and awareness about lung cancer screening. LungTalk uses text, audio, video, and animation to make the information engaging and easy to understand. By addressing barriers like stigma and confusion, it encourages more women to attend screenings. Although still in the early stages of research, this approach appears effective for increasing screening rates. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Tali Amir, MD

Principal Investigator

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for women aged 50-80 who have a history of heavy smoking (at least 20-pack-years), either currently smoke or quit within the last 15 years, and haven't had lung cancer screening before. They must have recently had a mammogram with no signs of breast cancer.

Inclusion Criteria

Lung screening naïve as per self-report

My recent mammogram was negative or showed benign findings.

You have smoked at least one pack of cigarettes every day for 20 years or more, according to what you tell us.

Exclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with lung cancer.

You have had a chest CT scan in the past year.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Digital Strategy Implementation

Participants engage with the digital strategy involving email communications and LungTalk to increase awareness about lung cancer screening

6 months

Web-based interactions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for engagement and effectiveness of the digital strategy

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• LungTalk

Trial Overview The study is testing 'LungTalk', a digital tool designed to raise awareness about lung cancer screening through emails and an interactive web-based platform featuring text, audio, video, and animations.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Women who have had a mammogram Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will consist of eligible women who have had a mammogram

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,998

Recruited

602,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A randomized controlled trial is being conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a social media-based intervention called LungTalk, aimed at increasing awareness and knowledge about lung cancer screening among high-risk individuals.

The study addresses the low uptake of lung cancer screening despite evidence from the National Lung Screening Trial showing that low-dose computed tomography can reduce lung cancer mortality, highlighting the potential of social media to reach underserved populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Leveraging social media to increase lung cancer screening awareness, knowledge and uptake among high-risk populations (The INSPIRE-Lung Study): Study protocol of design and methods of a community-based randomized controlled trial. Lisa, CB., Banerjee, SC., Ostroff, JS., et al.[2023]

The Risk-Based NLST Outcomes Tool (RNOT) helps individuals understand their personalized risk of lung cancer diagnosis and death, which can aid in making informed decisions about screening.

Participants in the study found the RNOT useful for screening decisions, although they expressed confusion about risk changes and indicated that there was no level of false-positive risk that would deter them from screening.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Patient Perspectives on the Risk-Based NLST Outcomes Tool for Lung Cancer Screening. Roberts, MC., Seaman, EL., Klein, WMP., et al.[2022]

A focus group study involving 54 participants from Appalachian Kentucky revealed that most individuals were previously unaware of lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT), highlighting the need for effective awareness campaigns.

Participants emphasized the importance of messaging that includes personal testimonies, hope, and the benefits of early detection, suggesting that communication from trusted healthcare providers is crucial for promoting lung cancer screening.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Identifying Community Perspectives for a Lung Cancer Screening Awareness Campaign in Appalachia Kentucky: The Terminate Lung Cancer (TLC) Study. Cardarelli, R., Roper, KL., Cardarelli, K., et al.[2018]

The National Lung Screening Trial found that annual low-dose CT scans can reduce lung cancer-specific mortality by 20% in older heavy smokers, highlighting the potential effectiveness of lung cancer screening.

To maximize the benefits of lung cancer screening, ongoing research is essential for improving risk assessment, patient communication, and management of detected abnormalities, ensuring that screening programs are implemented responsibly.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Lung cancer screening. Arenberg, D.[2015]

Tobacco Treatment Specialists (TTSs) currently lack sufficient knowledge about lung cancer screening (LCS) guidelines, which limits their ability to promote screening among patients, despite recognizing its importance.

There is a significant opportunity to enhance LCS awareness through TTSs, who are willing to incorporate LCS education into their practices, indicating a need for targeted training to improve their effectiveness in this area.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Tobacco treatment specialists' knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about lung cancer screening: Potential piece of the puzzle for increasing lung cancer screening awareness. Carter-Bawa, L., Kotsen, C., Schofield, E., et al.[2023]

A randomized trial involving 298 Maryland Tobacco Quitline callers showed that providing lung cancer screening (LCS) education through print materials led to higher engagement (75% read the materials) compared to web-based materials (61.6%).

Despite similar rates of scheduling or completing LCS between the two groups (around 43%), the study highlights that offering educational materials in preferred formats (print or web) can enhance awareness and potentially increase screening rates among eligible individuals.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The tobacco quitline setting as a teachable moment: The Educating Quitline Users About Lung (EQUAL) cancer screening randomized trial. Webster, M., Whealan, J., Williams, RM., et al.[2023]

A single-page, paper-based encounter decision aid (EDA) used during shared decision-making visits for lung cancer screening significantly reduced patient decisional conflict, as indicated by a drop in the Decisional Conflict Scale score from 35.0 to 0.2 (p < 0.001).

While 28% of patients understood the mortality benefit of lung cancer screening after the visit, a much higher percentage (82%) grasped the frequency of abnormal screening results, highlighting the need for improved patient education on the mortality benefits of screening.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pilot Study of an Encounter Decision Aid for Lung Cancer Screening. Ito Fukunaga, M., Balwan, A., Janis, JA., et al.[2023]

In a study of 404 patients undergoing lung cancer screening, 26.7-38.0% were found to have inadequate or marginal health literacy, indicating a significant barrier to understanding screening processes.

The readability of online educational materials about lung cancer screening averaged a grade level of 10.6, which is much higher than the recommended 6th grade level, suggesting that these materials may not be accessible to many patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Lung cancer screening: assessment of health literacy and readability of online educational resources. Haas, K., Brillante, C., Sharp, L., et al.[2019]

Citations

1. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666364323001285

A Brief Report Case Study Using the Lung Cancer Stigma ... The LCS-CAT considers language, imagery, and context and was used to audit a public-facing health communication and decision support tool called LungTalk.

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7671845/

Computer-Tailored Decision Support Tool for Lung Cancer ... LungTalk is a computer-tailored decision support tool that is theoretically grounded in the Conceptual Model on Lung Cancer Screening ...

3. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-lung-neoplasms-5-2023-36bde

LungTalk for Increasing Lung Cancer Screening These findings imply that similar tools, such as LungTalk, may also be effective in increasing lung cancer screening by facilitating better communication and ...

4. cancernetwork.com cancernetwork.com/view/combatting-stigmatization-to-increase-lung-cancer-screening-access

Combatting Stigmatization to Increase Lung Cancer ... According to findings published in JTO Clinical Research and Reports, applying the Lung Cancer Stigma Communications Assessment Tool to LungTalk ...

5. nlcrt.org nlcrt.org/resource/effective-communication-about-lung-cancer-screening-without-iatrogenic-stigma-a-brief-report-case-study-using-the-lung-cancer-stigma-communications-assessment-tool-of-lungtalk/

A Brief Report Case Study Using the Lung Cancer Stigma ... Effective Communication About Lung Cancer Screening Without Iatrogenic ... Lung Cancer Stigma Communications Assessment Tool of LungTalk. Effective ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11982046/

Developing a digital video to support lung cancer ... However, few videos or digital tools to support lung cancer screening ... lung Cancer stigma communications assessment tool of LungTalk.

7. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/lung-screening-for-lung-cancer-20782

Lung Screening for Lung Cancer ... LungTalk Digital Tool, Lung Cancer Screening Communication Tool for lung cancer screening? Research shows that tools like the Risk-Based NLST Outcomes Tool ...