Abstract 654: The effect of lung cancer screening awareness on smoking behavior among U.S. adults

Abstract

Abstract Background: Emphasizing the risk of lung cancer can encourage smoking cessation, but use of spiral low-dose CT scans reduced lung cancer mortality in a recent randomized screening trial. It is unknown if awareness of lung cancer screening will influence smoking behavior. Aim: To evaluate the awareness of lung cancer screening and to determine if awareness of lung cancer screening affects smoking cessation-related behavior among current smokers. Methods: We identified 7,282 adult respondents who answered questions concerning their smoking-related behavior in the 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). We used logistic regression models to evaluate the association of smoking status with awareness of lung cancer screening and we also investigated the association of lung cancer screening awareness with smoking cessation behaviors among current smokers. Results: The mean age of responders was 54.1 years and 61.2% were females. There were 3,813 (52.4%) never smokers; 2,222 (30.5%) former smokers; and 1,247 (17.2%) current smokers. Overall, 2,183 (30.6%) of respondents had heard of a lung cancer screening test (29.6% never smokers, 33.4% former smokers, and 28.5% current smokers; P value = 0.002). Chest X-ray (64.4%) and CT scan (5.7%) were among the screening tests that they have heard of. Among current smokers, awareness of lung cancer screening had no effect on smoking cessation behavior after adjusting for age, sex, race, education, income and marital status (Table). Conclusion: Awareness of lung cancer screening tests did not affect smoking cessation behavior of current smokers. However, smoking cessation should be recommended for all current smokers and those with a history of smoking should be informed about lung cancer screening with CT scan. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 654. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-654