Attitudes of lung cancer screening practice in chest physicians in middle-income countries: an update

Abstract

Background In lung cancer, early diagnosis is the strongest predictor of survival and stage 1 is detected in only 15% of patients incidentally. To improve the outcomes, screening for cancer in the early stage in high-risk groups is a promising strategy. Aim The aim of this study was to assess the attitudes and knowledge of lung cancer screening practice in chest physicians. Patients and methods A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to a total of 75 chest physicians and the data were analysed. Results The survey illustrated that chest physicians believe that low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is the most useful tool in screening for lung cancer in former and current smokers (31.3–62.5%) and it is a very effective screening test in reducing cancer mortality in never, former and current smokers (70%, 61.3 and 85%, respectively). Despite 90% of doctors having LDCT available in their geographic areas, 82.5% do not provide lung cancer screening for risk groups. Conclusion In Egypt, chest physicians believe that the use of LDCT screening for patients at high risk of lung cancer is an evidence-based recommendation by most programmes. Still most of them do not follow any screening program for risk groups. Education for doctors may increase the awareness, accuracy and efficacy of screening of high-risk patients.

Keywords

• attitude
• chest physicians
• lung cancer
• radiology
• screening programs
• sputum cytology