Lung Cancer Screening: Beliefs and Recommendations of Primary Care Physicians at the National Guard Hospital (NGHA)
Background: Early detection of lung cancers via screening may aid in decreasing the associated mortality; however, optimal screening methods have not yet been established. Objectives: We aimed to explore the beliefs and attitudes of primary care physicians (PCPs) towards lung cancer screening guidelines in asymptomatic patients. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study at the NGHA primary care centres, using a validated questionnaire, with 11 questions, developed by the National Cancer Institute, USA, and customized to our medical settings. Results: 37% of family physicians requested chest X-rays; 1.9%, sputum cytology; and 3.7%, low-dose spiral chest computed tomography (CT) scans. Of the internists, 42.1% requested low-dose CT scans; 62.5%, chest X-rays; and 5%, sputum cytology. The mean knowledge scores for family physicians and internists regarding screening guidelines were 2.3 and 1.5, respectively, and those for their belief in the effectiveness of screening modalities were 7.6 and 6.6, respectively. Conclusion: To harmonize lung cancer screening guidelines with clinical practice, further research on factors influencing the perceptions and responses of PCPs to screening guidelines needs to be conducted.
