Perceptions of lung cancer risk and beliefs in screening accuracy of spiral computed tomography among high-risk lung cancer family members.
OBJECTIVE
Spiral computed tomography (SCT) is being evaluated as a screening tool for lung cancer. Our objective was to describe the effect of participation in SCT screening on participants' risk perceptions, worry, and expectations regarding the accuracy of the screening result.


METHODS
We surveyed 60 individuals with lung cancer family history who were participating in an SCT study for the primary purpose of improving genetic linkage analysis at baseline, and then 1 and 6 months post-SCT.


RESULTS
Of the 60 participants, 40 received normal results, 19 received non-negative results requiring follow-up, and 1 was diagnosed with lung cancer. At baseline, participants reported high levels of perceived lung cancer risk (64%), were concerned about developing lung cancer (94%), and the majority (84%) were not OK with receiving a non-negative SCT result when they really didn't have cancer. At 1 month post-SCT, those with a non-negative screen (n = 19) had lowered their expectations of test accuracy regarding non-negative results (54%) and reported increased levels in worry/concern (100%) and perceived risk (75%), but these effects diminished over time and returned almost to baseline levels at 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Persons at very high empiric risk for lung cancer expect their SCT screening test to be accurate and present with high levels of lung cancer risk perception and worry/concern overall. Our findings suggest a need for risk counseling and discussion on the limitations of screening tests to accurately detect lung cancer.
Sinicrope
Pamela S
PS
Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. sinicrope.pamela@mayo.edu <sinicrope.pamela@mayo.edu>
Rabe
Kari G
KG
Brockman
Tabetha A
TA
Patten
Christi A
CA
Petersen
Wesley O
WO
Slusser
Joshua
J
Yang
Ping
P
Swensen
Stephen J
SJ
Edell
Eric S
ES
de Andrade
Mariza
M
Petersen
Gloria M
GM
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome