Veterans Peer Connect Program for Lung Cancer

(VPC Trial)

Overseen By Jacquelyn Pendergast, MS

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: VA Boston Healthcare System

Disqualifiers: Non-Black Veterans

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

40 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Co-design will be implemented to develop an innovative, Veteran-centered intervention (Vet Peer Connects program) that meets the needs of Black Veterans. Next, a feasibility pilot test of the Vet Peer Connects program will be conducted. The Peer will lead up to 4 group lung cancer screening orientations in community partner sites to reach around 40 lung cancer screening eligible Black Veterans. The Peer will provide one-to-one tailored support to up to 15 Veterans (coaching, goal-setting, navigation to access Veterans Affairs lung cancer screening). Then, the study team will evaluate program delivery through ethnographic observation and field notes, Peer activity logs, and weekly check-ins between the study team and Peer. Investigators will interview Veteran participants, community partners, and lung cancer screening clinical staff to explore feasibility and acceptability of the Vet Peer Connects program and solicit suggestions for improvement. Preliminary data on the outcomes of the Vet Peer Connects program will be collected by study team through administering surveys to assess change in Social Cognitive Theory constructs, and extracting lung cancer screening uptake and tobacco treatment 3 months post enrollment from VA's Corporate Data Warehouse. This work will inform a subsequent multi-site stepped-wedge trial to assess effectiveness, implementation, and cost of the Vet Peer Connects program in VA lung cancer screening sites and neighboring branches of the National Association for Black Veterans

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

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

How is the Veterans Peer Connect Program for Lung Cancer different from other treatments for lung cancer?

The Veterans Peer Connect Program for Lung Cancer is unique because it focuses on peer support and connection among veterans, rather than traditional medical treatments like chemotherapy or radiation. This program aims to provide emotional and social support, which can be an important aspect of overall care for veterans with lung cancer. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is specifically for self-identified Black Veterans who meet the US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines for lung cancer screening. They should still be smoking or have quit within the past 15 years and have a history of at least 20 pack-years of smoking, but haven't yet undergone lung cancer screening.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a Black Veteran.

I currently smoke or quit within the last 15 years and have a 20 pack-year smoking history.

I have not had a lung cancer screening yet.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Co-Design and Development

Co-design of the Vet Peer Connects program to meet the needs of Black Veterans

4-8 weeks

Feasibility Pilot Test

Pilot testing of the Vet Peer Connects program with group orientations and one-to-one support

3 months

Up to 4 group orientations, multiple one-to-one sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for program outcomes and lung cancer screening uptake

3 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Veterans Peer Connect Program

Trial Overview The Vet Peer Connects program is being tested to see if it improves equity, veteran-centeredness, and uptake of lung cancer screening among eligible Black Veterans. It includes group orientations and one-to-one support like coaching and navigation to access VA's lung cancer screening services.

Participant Groups

Group I: Peer led intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The peer-led program will be pilot tested enrolling 40 self-identified lung cancer screening eligible Black Veterans.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

VA Boston Healthcare System

Lead Sponsor

Trials

73

Recruited

971,000+

Findings from Research

A centralized lung cancer screening program at the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center effectively utilized shared decision-making (SDM) and telehealth to support veterans, with 91 out of 105 veterans opting for low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) after counseling.

Despite high confidence in their screening decisions, many veterans lacked critical knowledge about the risks and benefits of screening, indicating a need for improved patient education and decision support during the referral process.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Implementing a Telehealth Shared Counseling and Decision-Making Visit for Lung Cancer Screening in a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Hoffman, RM., Lang, JA., Bailey, GJ., et al.[2023]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Implementing a Telehealth Shared Counseling and Decision-Making Visit for Lung Cancer Screening in a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. [2023]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Protocol to evaluate an enterprise-wide initiative to increase access to lung cancer screening in the Veterans Health Administration. [2023]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Strategic Initiatives for Veterans with Lung Cancer. [2022]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Implementation of Lung Cancer Screening at One Veterans Affairs Medical Center. [2022]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Chemoradiation treatment patterns among United States Veteran Health Administration patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer. [2023]