Ensuring precision medicine for veterans with lung cancer: A randomized clinical trial.

Abstract

1501 Background: National guidelines recommend molecular testing for patients with non-small cell lung cancer, yet this is not routinely completed in practice. In prior work, we identified barriers to testing in the Veterans Affairs. First, physicians are unaware if and when testing has occurred. Second, patients are unaware of testing and the implications on treatment and clinical outcomes. In response, in collaboration with a Veteran and Caregiver Advisory Board, we created a multilevel intervention led by a peer volunteer who: 1) provides tailored education of molecular testing for 1 month for Veterans newly diagnosed with lung cancer and, 2) alerts clinicians via secure messaging if tumor samples have not been tested. We conducted this randomized clinical trial to assess whether the intervention improves patient knowledge of molecular testing and patient activation and increases receipt of molecular genomic testing compared with usual care. Methods: All veterans >18 years old with a new diagnosis of any stage non-small cell lung cancer were eligible. Exclusions included inability to consent. All participants completed baseline assessments at randomization and at 1-month follow-up comprised of a 3-question validated precision medicine knowledge questionnaire and a 13-question validated patient activation measure. Genomic testing was assessed by chart review at 6-months followup. We used regression models to assess differences in mean knowledge and activation scores over time between groups and compared rates of genomic testing. Results: 75 Veterans were screened with 46 eligible. All 46 consented to participate, with 23 in each group. All were male (100%), had mean age of 76.3+/-5.54 years; 31 (67.4%) were Latinx; 2 (4.4%) Asian; 11 (23.9%) Black; 1 (2.2%) Native Hawaiian; 32 (69.6%) White; 32 (69.6%) had Stage 4 disease. At 1 month follow-up mean knowledge scores increased over time in the intervention group and remained stable in the control group (mean score 2.30 +/- 0.97 versus 1.16 +/- 1.15, p=0.014). At 1-month follow-up, patient activation increased for the intervention group more than the control group (46.7 +/- 11.3 versus 37.6 +/- 9.26, p=0.002). There were no significant differences in tumor testing between groups (intervention: 95.6% versus control: 86.9%, p=0.62). Conclusions: A volunteer led effort improved patient education regarding precision medicine and patient activation among Veterans as compared with usual care alone. Interventions that include volunteers and other support can enhance care and clinical outcomes among veterans with lung cancer. Clinical trial information: NCT05795959 .