Improving Lung Cancer Screening Rates Through an Evidence-Based Electronic Health Record Smoking History

Abstract

Lung cancer is prevalent worldwide, with 2.1 million new cases and 1.8 million deaths in 2020. In the United States, an estimated 131 880 lung cancer deaths are expected to occur in 2021, with most detected in later stages. Smokers are 15 to 30 times more likely to develop or die from lung cancer. Our community residents were more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer in later stages (62%) compared with 56% nationally, resulting in an increased community mortality rate. Evidence-based changes in an electronic health record system supported identification and referral of high-risk patients for low-dose computer tomography to improve early lung cancer detection rates. Early-stage lung cancer detection increased 24%. Interprofessional teams used technology to adopt evidence-based practice and improve health outcomes in their communities.