Lung cancer screening rates are notably low, with only 6.5% of eligible individuals screened in 2020, prompting the launch of the LungSMART trial. This initiative seeks to increase these rates through telehealth interventions within community health centers, particularly focusing on addressing disparities related to race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status.
Addressing Screening Disparities
LungSMART (Population Health Management Approaches to Increase Lung Cancer Screening in Community Health Centers) will employ a sequential multiple-assignment randomized trial (SMART) design. This approach allows researchers to test and adapt telehealth interventions to best suit the needs of individuals hesitant about or facing logistical barriers to lung cancer screening.
The trial is being conducted in community health centers throughout Utah, with the goal of creating a scalable model for other regions.
Leadership and Support
David Wetter, Guilherme Del Fiol, and Ken Kawamoto from the University of Utah serve as the principal investigators for LungSMART. The project is supported by a grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), marking a significant milestone as the first NCI-supported trial within the NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory.
