Lungs for Living Research Centre, UCL Respiratory, University College London, London, UK.
Centre for Prevention, Detection and Diagnosis, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
Lung Cancer. 2022 Jun;168:46-49. doi: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2022.04.009. Epub 2022 Apr 20.
Pulmonary nodules are commonly found in Lung Cancer Screening (LCS), with results typically communicated by face-to-face or telephone consultation. Providing LCS on a population basis requires resource efficient and scalabe communication methods. Written communication provides one such method. Here, we assess participant satisfaction with this approach in a LCS setting and investigate characteristics associated with dissatisfaction.
The SUMMIT Study is a prospective observational cohort study which aims to assess the implementation of Low-Dose Computed Tomography (LDCT) scanning for LCS in a high-risk population and validate a multi-cancer early detection blood test (NCT03934866). Participants with indeterminate pulmonary nodules requiring a three-month interval LDCT were informed of their result by postal letter and given a face-to-face appointment with a study practitioner at their interval LDCT appointment. At this appointment, having previously received their results letter, participants were verbally asked questions to assess their satisfaction with, and preferences for, methods of results communication.
1,900 participants were included in the analysis. 82.8% (n = 1573) were satisfied with receiving their results by letter, with 2.9% (n = 55) reporting dissatisfaction. 86.3% (n = 1640) stated it was their preferred communication method and 77.3% (n = 1469) reported that their letter contained the right amount of information. Participants from less deprived socioeconomic quintiles were more likely to report that the letter contained insufficient information and individuals aged ≥ 70 years were less likely to do so. Although 13.7% (n = 261) participants had discussed their results with their General Practitioner (GP) prior to the study visit, 83.9% (n = 219) of these participants were satisfied with receiving results by letter, with the same proportion preferring this communication method.
We report high participant satisfaction with the reporting of pulmonary nodule results by letter in a LCS setting. We believe this provides a feasible route forward for large-scale screening programmes.
肺癌筛查中常发现肺部结节，结果通常通过面对面或电话咨询进行沟通。基于人群开展肺癌筛查需要资源高效且可扩展的沟通方式。书面沟通提供了这样一种方法。在此，我们评估了在肺癌筛查环境中这种方法的参与者满意度，并调查了与不满意相关的特征。
SUMMIT 研究是一项前瞻性观察队列研究，旨在评估在高危人群中进行低剂量计算机断层扫描（LDCT）筛查用于肺癌筛查的实施情况，并验证一种多癌症早期检测血液检测（NCT03934866）。需要进行三个月间隔 LDCT 的肺部结节结果不确定的参与者通过邮寄信件得知其结果，并在间隔 LDCT 预约时与研究医生进行预约。在此次预约时，在之前收到他们的结果信件后，参与者通过口头提问来评估他们对结果沟通方法的满意度和偏好。
共纳入 1900 名参与者进行分析。82.8%（n=1573）对通过信件接收结果表示满意，2.9%（n=55）报告不满意。86.3%（n=1640）表示这是他们首选的沟通方式，77.3%（n=1469）表示他们的信件包含了适量的信息。来自社会经济地位较低五分位数的参与者更有可能报告信件中包含的信息不足，而年龄≥70 岁的个体则不太可能这样报告。尽管 13.7%（n=261）的参与者在研究就诊前已与他们的全科医生（GP）讨论过结果，但 83.9%（n=219）的参与者对通过信件接收结果表示满意，同样比例的参与者更喜欢这种沟通方式。
我们报告了在肺癌筛查环境中通过信件报告肺部结节结果的参与者高度满意。我们认为这为大规模筛查计划提供了可行的途径。
