Oral Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2022

Early design and feasibility assessment of a potential Lung Cancer Screening Program in Australia (#88)

Vivienne Milch 1 2 , Katrina Anderson 1 , Tamsin Farrugia 1 , Anna Boltong 1 3 , Dorothy Keefe 1
  1. Cancer Australia, Surry Hills, NSW, Australia
  2. University of Notre Dame, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  3. Kirby Institute, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Aims

In Australia, lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer death, with the number of new cases diagnosed increasing each year1. Indigenous Australians, people living in remote and very remote areas and areas of greatest socioeconomic disadvantage, are disproportionately affected by lung cancer, with higher lung cancer incidence and mortality in these groups compared to others1.

Cancer Australia, in partnership with the Department of Health, led the early design and feasibility work for a potential national lung cancer screening program comprising 2-yearly low-dose computed tomography scans in high-risk individuals. Work undertaken in this early design phase is reported.

Methods

A multi-faceted body of work underpinned by extensive stakeholder consultation was undertaken to explore the early design and feasibility of a potential national lung cancer screening program. The domains of focus were:

  1. training, and education requirements and potential downstream impacts for key workforce groups;
  2. best practice approaches to co-design with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people;
  3. capacity and capability of lung scanning infrastructure;
  4. screening program tools, guidance, information and communication materials requirements to maximise accessibility for high-risk groups;
  5. data governance and quality assurance frameworks, including a data dictionary; and
  6. requirements and considerations from jurisdictional health departments and primary health networks.

Results

Work across the six domains has enabled identification of critical knowledge products and key elements to be considered in any future lung cancer screening program in Australia.

 Conclusion

Through consultation with key stakeholders, including consumers and First Nations Australians, Cancer Australia has identified the key program design elements, requirements, impact and implementation considerations of a potential national lung cancer screening program that is equitable for all Australians.  Work completed in this phase will inform any future decision by Government in relation to a potential lung cancer screening program in Australia.

  1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2022. Cancer data in Australia. Cat. no. CAN 122. Canberra: AIHW