A Lung Cancer Screening Education Program Impacts both Referral Rates and Provider and Medical Assistant Knowledge at Two Federally Qualified Health Centers

Low LCS referrals at FQHCs may worsen NSCLC disparities in marginalized populations. We implemented a program at two FQHCs that provided LCS education to 57 providers and MAs. After the program, there was a significant increase in both LCS referrals as well as provider and MA ability to identify eligible LCS participants Background: Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) serve minority and low-socioeconomic populations and provide care to high-risk smokers. These centers frequently exper ience barr iers, including low provider and medical assistant (MA) knowledge around lung cancer screening (LCS). Subsequent low LCS referral rates by providers at FQHCs limit utilization of LCS in eligible, high-risk, underserved patients. Methods: Providers and MAs from two FQHCs participated in a LCS educational session. A pre-educational survey was administered at the start of the session and a post-educational survey at the end. The intervention included a presentation with education around non-small cell lung cancer, LCS, tobacco cessation, and shared-decision making. Both surveys were used to evaluate changes in provider and MA ability to determine eligible patients for LCS. The Pearson???s Chi-squared test with Yates??? continuity correction was used to measure the impact. Results: A total of 29 providers and 28 MAs enrolled in the study from two FQHCs. There was an improvement, P < .009 and P < .015 respectively, in provider and MA confidence in identifying patients for LCS. Additionally, one year prior to the program, 9 low-dose computed tomography (LDCTs) were ordered at one of the FQHCs and 0 at the other. After the program, over 100 LDCTs were ordered at each FQHC. Conclusions: A targeted LCS educational program improves provider and MAs??? ability to identify eligible LCS patients and is associated with an increase in the number of patients referred to LDCT at FQHCs.