Effect of lung cancer screening awareness on smoking cessation behavior

Abstract

Background and objectives: Emphasizing the risk of lung cancer can encourage smoking cessation; however, computerized tomography (CT) scans reduced lung cancer mortality in a recent randomized screening trial. We postulated that awareness of lung cancer screening test will negatively impact smoking cessation behavior.

Methods: We identified 7,141 respondents who answered questions concerning their smoking-related behavior in the 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). We used survey weights in all analyses and used logistic regression models to assess the association of smoking status with awareness of lung cancer screening tests and evaluated smoking cessation behaviors.

Results: Overall, 2,183 (27.6%) of respondents had heard of a lung cancer screening test (26.9% among never smokers, 29.6% among former smokers, and 27.1% among current smokers). Smoking status was not associated with awareness of lung cancer screening tests. Among current smokers, awareness of lung cancer screening had no effect on quit attempts in the previous 12 months (OR=1.14, 95% CI=0.68-1.91) and consideration to quit in the next 6 months (OR=1.08; 95% CI=0.69-1.67).

Conclusions: Smoking cessation should be recommended for all current smokers, and those with a history of smoking should be informed about lung cancer screening with CT scan.