Education and Reminders for Lung Cancer Screening

Not currently recruiting at 9 trial locations

Overseen By Richard Echeverria

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of California, Irvine

Disqualifiers: Lung cancer, Chest CT, Alzheimer's, others

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

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 improve access to lung cancer screening for Hispanic/Latinx individuals. It will test a plan called Empower Latinx, which includes educating patients, notifying doctors about who needs screening, and reminding patients to discuss screening during doctor visits. The goal is to determine if these steps increase the number of people screened for lung cancer, aiding in early detection and potentially saving lives. Individuals who have smoked for a long time, are current or recent smokers, and live in California might be suitable candidates. Participants should also speak English or Spanish and have a primary care doctor. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to enhancing healthcare access and outcomes for the Hispanic/Latinx community.

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. It seems focused on lung cancer screening and education, so it's unlikely that you would need to change your medications, but you should confirm with the trial coordinators.

What prior data suggests that this intervention is safe for the Hispanic/Latinx community?

Research has shown that lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) can reduce lung cancer deaths by 20%. This study aims to make this screening more accessible to Hispanic communities. The program, called "Empower Latinx," provides educational materials and support to help patients get screened.

Regarding safety, the "Empower Latinx" program poses no health risks. It focuses on providing information and reminders for screening. The LDCT screening method is generally safe and uses a low level of radiation, which is considered safe for medical imaging. This approach is designed to make life-saving screenings more accessible without adding new health risks, offering reassurance to participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the "Empower Latinx" initiative because it introduces a comprehensive approach to lung cancer screening that directly addresses key barriers faced by patients. Unlike traditional methods that often overlook patients' socioeconomic challenges and knowledge gaps, "Empower Latinx" combines direct education for patients, notifications for primary care providers about screening eligibility, and referrals to financial navigation resources. This method not only aims to improve screening rates but also empowers patients to have informed discussions with their doctors, potentially leading to earlier detection and better outcomes.

What evidence suggests that this trial's interventions could be effective for improving lung cancer screening in the Hispanic community?

Research has shown that low-dose CT scans for lung cancer screening can reduce lung cancer deaths by 20%. In this trial, participants in Arm B will engage with the Empower Latinx program, which has proven more effective in encouraging cancer screening participation than standard clinic programs. This initiative seeks to boost screening rates by addressing common barriers such as lack of knowledge and access to healthcare. By informing doctors about patients who need screening and providing educational materials, Empower Latinx aims to enhance early lung cancer detection among Hispanic patients. ^{1 2 3 5 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Gelareh Sadigh, MD

Principal Investigator

University of California, Irvine

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for Hispanic individuals aged 50-80 who are current or former smokers (quit within the last 15 years) with a history of heavy smoking. They must have an upcoming primary care appointment and be able to speak English or Spanish. It's focused on those in Orange County attending UCI Health clinics.

Inclusion Criteria

I can speak both English and Spanish.

Current smoker or a former smoker who has quit smoking within the last 15 years (based on survey self-report)

History of 20-pack year smoking history (based on survey self-report)

Exclusion Criteria

I had a chest CT scan in the last year.

I have had lung cancer before.

I have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive a multi-level intervention including PCP notifications, education, financial navigation resources, and reminders to discuss LCS during PCP visits

4 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in knowledge, perceived benefits, barriers, self-efficacy, risk, and severity of lung cancer screening

4 months

Qualitative Assessment

Patient and provider experiences with the intervention are assessed through qualitative interviews

3-6 months after follow-up

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Empower Latinx

Trial Overview The study tests if reminders to patients and providers, patient education, and financial navigation aid can increase lung cancer screenings using low dose CT scans compared to enhanced usual care. The goal is early detection of lung cancer in the Hispanic community.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Arm B: Empower Latinx Experimental Treatment 5 Interventions

* PCP notifications of patients' LCS eligibility (addressing provider time constraints and barrier in identifying eligible patients); * Patients' education (addressing knowledge barriers); * Patients' referral to financial navigation resources (addressing health-related social risks) * Patients' reminder to discuss LCS during PCP visit.

Group II: Arm A: Enhanced Usual Care Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Usual Care + Brief Educational Material

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, Irvine

Lead Sponsor

Trials

580

Recruited

4,943,000+

Radiological Society of North America

Collaborator

Trials

27

Recruited

1,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a survey of 460 older smokers, Latinos were more likely to believe that lung cancer could be prevented compared to non-Latinos (74.6% vs. 48.2%), indicating a more optimistic perception about lung cancer prevention.

When informed about lung screening, a significantly higher percentage of Latinos expressed interest in being screened (90.7% vs. 67% for non-Latinos), and they reported fewer barriers to accessing lung screening services.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Barriers to and Interest in Lung Cancer Screening Among Latino and Non-Latino Current and Former Smokers. Percac-Lima, S., Ashburner, JM., Atlas, SJ., et al.[2021]

The Lung AIR intervention effectively increased knowledge and reduced fear about lung cancer screening among 292 participants, demonstrating its feasibility as a community-based educational program.

One-on-one phone sessions were particularly effective, leading to greater increases in participants' intention to complete screening compared to in-person group sessions, especially among those with lower income and higher smoking rates.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adapting Community Educational Programs During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Comparing the Feasibility and Efficacy of a Lung Cancer Screening Educational Intervention by Mode of Delivery. Bouchard, EG., Saad-Harfouche, FG., Clark, N., et al.[2023]

52% of current and former smokers were aware of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung cancer screening, indicating a significant gap in awareness that needs to be addressed.

Former smokers showed greater awareness of lung cancer screening compared to current smokers, and a high percentage (80.6%) of those who had never been screened expressed willingness to undergo screening if recommended by their doctor, highlighting the importance of physician encouragement for eligible patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Awareness and interest in lung cancer screening among current and former smokers: findings from the ITC United States Survey. Sharma, A., Kasza, K., Hyland, A., et al.[2019]

A randomized controlled trial involving 225 patients showed that telephone-based navigation significantly helped identify and address barriers to lung cancer screening, with personal and provider-related issues being the most common.

Provider-related barriers decreased by 80% during the screening process, indicating that patient navigation can effectively improve access to lung cancer screening, especially among minority and underserved populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Assessing Barriers and Facilitators to Lung Cancer Screening: Initial Findings from a Patient Navigation Intervention. Lee, SJC., Lee, J., Zhu, H., et al.[2023]

A systematic review of 21 studies revealed significant disparities in lung cancer screening (LCS) outcomes for Black and socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals, highlighting that these groups often miss out on the benefits of LCS, which contributes to higher mortality rates from nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

The study identified critical areas of inequity in the LCS pipeline, including eligibility criteria, utilization, and follow-up care, and recommends further research and targeted interventions to improve access and outcomes for marginalized populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Racial and socioeconomic disparities in lung cancer screening in the United States: A systematic review. Sosa, E., D'Souza, G., Akhtar, A., et al.[2022]

The community health worker (CHW) intervention successfully enrolled 3,045 Latino men and women, leading to a 71% cancer screening rate among participants, which is a significant increase compared to previous rates.

The intervention not only improved cancer screening rates but also enhanced participants' knowledge of screening guidelines and their belief in the importance of early detection, demonstrating its effectiveness in addressing health disparities in underserved populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Cancer Education-Plus-Navigation Intervention Implemented Within a Federally Qualified Health Center and Community-Based Settings. Mojica, CM., Almatkyzy, G., Morales-Campos, D.[2021]

A study of 438 individuals in Indiana revealed that sociodemographic factors such as race, geographic location, income, and health insurance significantly influence lung cancer screening behavior.

The research identified disparities in screening participation based on race and residence, highlighting the need for targeted outreach and educational programs to improve screening rates among underrepresented groups.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Understanding lung cancer screening behavior: Racial, gender, and geographic differences among Indiana long-term smokers. Carter-Harris, L., Slaven, JE., Monahan, PO., et al.[2023]

The Cultivando la Salud (CLS) intervention, implemented by lay health workers, significantly increased breast and cervical cancer screening rates among low-income Hispanic women, with mammography rates rising to 40.8% compared to 29.9% in the control group, and Pap test rates increasing to 39.5% versus 23.6%.

The intervention improved participants' self-efficacy and perceptions related to cancer screening, indicating that enhancing confidence and awareness can positively influence screening behaviors, although it did not significantly change knowledge about Pap tests.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of Cultivando la Salud: a breast and cervical cancer screening promotion program for low-income Hispanic women. Fernández, ME., Gonzales, A., Tortolero-Luna, G., et al.[2022]

The Native Cancer 101 Module 10 workshops significantly increased cancer screening knowledge among participants by 25.20%, with 97.1% expressing a willingness to recommend the workshop to others.

Following the workshops, 46.3% of participants reported completing at least one cancer screening test, demonstrating the workshops' effectiveness in encouraging cancer screening within the American Indian community.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

How can an Education Workshop Serve as an Intervention for American Indian Screening Participation. Burhansstipanov, L., Harjo, L., Kaur, JS.[2020]

In a study conducted at an urban Native American clinic, two culturally targeted promotion strategies for lung cancer screening resulted in low scheduling rates for shared decision-making visits, with only 8.5% of eligible patients participating.

Despite ordering lung cancer screening CT exams, only about 50% of those exams were completed, highlighting a significant gap that suggests the need for more effective interventions to encourage follow-through on screenings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Lung Cancer Screening Outreach Program in an Urban Native American Clinic. Robichaux, C., Anderson, M., Freese, R., et al.[2023]

Citations

1. trialx.com trialx.com/clinical-trials/listings/285402/empowering-hispanic-patients-lung-cancer-screening-uptake-empower-latinx/

Empowering Hispanic Patients' Lung Cancer Screening ... Lung cancer screening (LCS) with low dose computed tomography (LDCT) decreases this mortality rate of lung cancer by 20%. Yet many Latinx ...

2. rsna.org rsna.org/research/funding-opportunities/emerging-issues-grant/rsna-health-equity-committee-re-foundation

RSNA Health Equity Committee/R&E Foundation Community-based programs promoting cancer screening uptake have demonstrated increased screening engagement compared to clinic-based programs in reaching ...

3. cancer.gov cancer.gov/research/participate/clinical-trials-search/v?id=NCI-2024-03180

Empower Latinx Intervention for Improving Knowledge and ... The Empower Latinx intervention may improve lung cancer screening rates among Hispanic patients by addressing patient knowledge and barriers to care.

4. lungevity.org lungevity.org/blogs/understanding-social-implications-on-lung-cancer-disparities-in-hispaniclatinx-communities

Understanding Social Implications on Lung Cancer ... Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the Hispanic/Latinx community, largely due to delayed diagnoses. Early ...

5. clin.larvol.com clin.larvol.com/trial-detail/NCT06225414

Empowering Hispanic Patients' Lung Cancer Screening ... Outcome Measure, Measure Description, Time Frame. Number of Participants who received LDCT for LCS, Within 4 months of randomization.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11904607/

Review of Interventions That Improve Uptake of Lung Cancer ... Lung cancer screening (LCS) with low-dose CT imaging has the potential to decrease mortality from lung cancer by approximately 20%., Yet, 1 decade since LCS was ...