Lung cancer screening knowledge, attitudes, and practices among primary care providers in Georgia, USA: A survey analysis.

Objective

To inform lung cancer screening (LCS) in primary care settings, the study assessed providers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices around LCS and recommended implementation strategies.

Methods

The online survey was administered from May-August 2025 among primary care providers in Georgia, USA. We ran descriptive analyses for all data and linear regression for predictors of greater knowledge.

Results

Providers (N = 112) had an average knowledge score of 3.72/5 (SD = 1.11). Physicians (N = 73) scored significantly higher than nurses/nurse practitioners (β = -1.0, 95% CI: -1.6, -0.44). Overall, participants viewed LCS positively, and about 45% reported offering LCS at their facility while 50% reported referring patients to LCS programs. Most (75.5%) had strategies to follow-up with patients who screened positive, but few (22.6%) offered tobacco cessation services. Top barriers were cost, lack of patient knowledge/interest, and transportation; cost assistance, patient education materials, and patient navigation were the top facilitators. Providers (N = 86) identified 'Distributing patient educational materials' and 'Reminding clinicians' as highly feasible and important implementation strategies.

Conclusions

While most providers had sufficient knowledge, positive perceptions, and high availability of LCS services, few engage in patient education or offer smoking cessation resources. Patient education and clinician reminders may be beneficial implementation strategies for primary care-based LCS.