Primary care and pulmonary physicians’ knowledge and practice concerning screening for lung cancer in Lebanon, a middle‐income country
ABSTRACT Background Screening for lung cancer with low‐dose computed tomography (LDCT) was shown to reduce lung cancer incidence and overall mortality, and it has been recently included in international guidelines. Despite the rising burden of lung cancer in low and middle‐income countries (LMICs) s...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Cancer Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.3816 |
| _version_ | 1818863149180256256 |
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| author | Imad Bou Akl Nathalie K. Zgheib Maroun Matar Deborah Mukherji Marco Bardus Rihab Nasr |
| author_facet | Imad Bou Akl Nathalie K. Zgheib Maroun Matar Deborah Mukherji Marco Bardus Rihab Nasr |
| author_sort | Imad Bou Akl |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Background Screening for lung cancer with low‐dose computed tomography (LDCT) was shown to reduce lung cancer incidence and overall mortality, and it has been recently included in international guidelines. Despite the rising burden of lung cancer in low and middle‐income countries (LMICs) such as Lebanon, little is known about what primary care physicians or pulmonologists know and think about LDCT as a screening procedure for lung cancer, and if they recommend it. Objectives Evaluate the knowledge about LDCT and implementation of international guidelines for lung cancer screening among Lebanese primary care physicians (PCPs) and pulmonary specialists. Methodology PCPs and PUs based in Lebanon were surveyed concerning knowledge and practices related to lung cancer screening by self‐administered paper questionnaires. Results 73.8% of PCPs and 60.7% of pulmonary specialists recognized LDCT as an effective tool for lung cancer screening, with 63.6% of PCPs and 71% of pulmonary specialists having used it for screening. However, only 23.4% of PCPs and 14.5% of pulmonary specialists recognized the eligibility criteria for screening. Chest X‐ray was recognized as ineffective by only 55.8% of PCPs and 40.7% of pulmonary specialists; indeed, 30.2% of PCPs and 46% of pulmonary specialists continue using it for screening. The majority have initiated a discussion about the risks and benefits of lung cancer screening. Conclusion PCPs and pulmonary specialists are initiating discussions and ordering LDCT for lung cancer screening. However, a significant proportion of both specialties are still using a non‐recommended screening tool (chest x‐ray); only few PCPs and pulmonary specialists recognized the population at risk for which screening is recommended. Targeted provider education is needed to close the knowledge gap and promote proper implementation of guidelines for lung cancer screening. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T10:11:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-47289701e0e0422ca3f1fff72a6f30c6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7634 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T10:11:10Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancer Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-47289701e0e0422ca3f1fff72a6f30c62022-12-21T20:26:22ZengWileyCancer Medicine2045-76342021-04-011082877288410.1002/cam4.3816Primary care and pulmonary physicians’ knowledge and practice concerning screening for lung cancer in Lebanon, a middle‐income countryImad Bou Akl0Nathalie K. Zgheib1Maroun Matar2Deborah Mukherji3Marco Bardus4Rihab Nasr5Division of Pulmonary Department of Internal Medicine American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine Beirut LebanonDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine Beirut LebanonDivision of Pulmonary Department of Internal Medicine American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine Beirut LebanonCancer Prevention and Control ProgramNaef K. Basile Cancer InstituteAmerican University of BeirutFaculty of Medicine Beirut LebanonCancer Prevention and Control ProgramNaef K. Basile Cancer InstituteAmerican University of BeirutFaculty of Medicine Beirut LebanonCancer Prevention and Control ProgramNaef K. Basile Cancer InstituteAmerican University of BeirutFaculty of Medicine Beirut LebanonABSTRACT Background Screening for lung cancer with low‐dose computed tomography (LDCT) was shown to reduce lung cancer incidence and overall mortality, and it has been recently included in international guidelines. Despite the rising burden of lung cancer in low and middle‐income countries (LMICs) such as Lebanon, little is known about what primary care physicians or pulmonologists know and think about LDCT as a screening procedure for lung cancer, and if they recommend it. Objectives Evaluate the knowledge about LDCT and implementation of international guidelines for lung cancer screening among Lebanese primary care physicians (PCPs) and pulmonary specialists. Methodology PCPs and PUs based in Lebanon were surveyed concerning knowledge and practices related to lung cancer screening by self‐administered paper questionnaires. Results 73.8% of PCPs and 60.7% of pulmonary specialists recognized LDCT as an effective tool for lung cancer screening, with 63.6% of PCPs and 71% of pulmonary specialists having used it for screening. However, only 23.4% of PCPs and 14.5% of pulmonary specialists recognized the eligibility criteria for screening. Chest X‐ray was recognized as ineffective by only 55.8% of PCPs and 40.7% of pulmonary specialists; indeed, 30.2% of PCPs and 46% of pulmonary specialists continue using it for screening. The majority have initiated a discussion about the risks and benefits of lung cancer screening. Conclusion PCPs and pulmonary specialists are initiating discussions and ordering LDCT for lung cancer screening. However, a significant proportion of both specialties are still using a non‐recommended screening tool (chest x‐ray); only few PCPs and pulmonary specialists recognized the population at risk for which screening is recommended. Targeted provider education is needed to close the knowledge gap and promote proper implementation of guidelines for lung cancer screening.https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.3816cancer awarenessLebanonlow‐dose computed tomographylung cancerscreening |
| spellingShingle | Imad Bou Akl Nathalie K. Zgheib Maroun Matar Deborah Mukherji Marco Bardus Rihab Nasr Primary care and pulmonary physicians’ knowledge and practice concerning screening for lung cancer in Lebanon, a middle‐income country Cancer Medicine cancer awareness Lebanon low‐dose computed tomography lung cancer screening |
| title | Primary care and pulmonary physicians’ knowledge and practice concerning screening for lung cancer in Lebanon, a middle‐income country |
| title_full | Primary care and pulmonary physicians’ knowledge and practice concerning screening for lung cancer in Lebanon, a middle‐income country |
| title_fullStr | Primary care and pulmonary physicians’ knowledge and practice concerning screening for lung cancer in Lebanon, a middle‐income country |
| title_full_unstemmed | Primary care and pulmonary physicians’ knowledge and practice concerning screening for lung cancer in Lebanon, a middle‐income country |
| title_short | Primary care and pulmonary physicians’ knowledge and practice concerning screening for lung cancer in Lebanon, a middle‐income country |
| title_sort | primary care and pulmonary physicians knowledge and practice concerning screening for lung cancer in lebanon a middle income country |
| topic | cancer awareness Lebanon low‐dose computed tomography lung cancer screening |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.3816 |
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