Rural areas are disproportionately impacted by smoking and lung cancer

Abstract

Rural populations have higher rates of late stage lung cancer incidence and mortality compared to urban populations, making them important target populations for low dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening. LDCT screening has been shown to reduce lung cancer mortality and is recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force for individuals who meet certain risk criteria. However, rural populations may experience greater system, provider, and individual-level barriers to screening and related health-seeking behavior (e.g. smoking cessation). LDCT screening was first tested in urban, academic centers, so it is still unknown how readily it may be implemented in rural areas. Additionally, rural populations have limited access to both primary care physicians who may refer to LDCT screening and specialty physicians who may perform the screening. Further, rural populations may be less likely to seek screening due to lack of awareness and understanding or other unknown knowledge or psychosocial barriers. There are several strategies that may address these rural specific challenges. First, further research is needed to better understand the individual-level barriers that rural patients experience. Second, to reduce system-level barriers, additional efforts should be made to increase rural access to screening through improved referral processes. Third, creation of decision support materials to equip rural providers to engage their patients in a shared decision making process regarding screening may help reduce physician level barriers. Fourth, development of a holistic approach to smoking cessation may help reduce lung cancer risk in conjunction with LDCT screening.

Keywords: Low dose computed tomography; Lung cancer; Rural cancer disparities; Screening.