In 2022, the American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable (ACS NLCRT) conducted market research to understand perceptions and barriers to lung cancer screening. The goals were to:

• Assess general awareness of lung cancer screening and its benefits.
• Understand attitudes, motivations, and barriers to getting screened.
• Identify messages and communication strategies that could motivate at-risk individuals to consider and seek low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening.
• Determine the most effective ways to deliver these messages.

This guidebook shares those findings and provides practical tools for providers, clinic staff, and public health professionals to raise awareness, spark conversations, and motivate action. Partners can use these insights to strengthen communications campaigns and create resources that resonate with target audiences.

Why It Matters

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., yet screening rates remain low as only 18% of eligible individuals reported screening in 2022. Early detection through LDCT saves lives, but many people are unaware of this option and their accessibility to it.

About the Research

The research was divided into two phases.

• Phase 1 assessed the attitudes and perceptions of the eligible population that had not been screened.
• Phase 2 assessed the effectiveness of various screening messages through a quantitative survey.

Key Insights

Research revealed four major barriers:

1. Many people are not aware that a screening test exists that can reduce the risk of dying from lung cancer.
2. Many people believe lung cancer screening is not covered by insurance.
3. People who have quit smoking are less likely to realize they are at increased lung cancer risk.
4. Some people who smoke blame themselves for their increased cancer risk and are less prone to action because they think nothing will actually reduce their lung cancer risk.