Improving Lung Cancer Screening Rates in Emergency Department Patients Aged 50 to 80 Using Referral and Text Message Support

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to increase lung cancer screening LCS among patients visiting the emergency department ED who are at high risk due to their smoking history. The study compares two approaches to encourage patients to get screened a basic referral with written materials and a more active facilitated referral combined with motivational text messages. The goal is to see which method leads to more patients completing their lung cancer screening within 120 days. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. In the basic referral group, patients receive verbal referral and written information to contact the LCS program and their primary care provider. In the facilitated referral group, the study staff submits a requisition to the LCS program on the patients behalf during their ED visit, and the program will follow up by phone to discuss screening and schedule a CT scan if appropriate. This group also receives a series of motivational text messages to encourage screening. During the study, 300 eligible participants will be followed for about 120 days to track if they complete lung cancer screening. Researchers will collect participant feedback about barriers and motivators to screening and assess the acceptability of ED-based screening promotion. The study includes follow-up to measure screening uptake and any related care. Participation involves receiving referrals, phone calls, and text messages depending on group assignment, with no masking or placebo use.

Increasing Lung Cancer Screening Uptake Among Emergency Department Patients