Effective Educational Approaches to Training Physicians About Lung Cancer Screening

In 2013, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommended low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for lung cancer screening (LCS) after a national trial demonstrated a 20% reduction in lung cancer mortality with LDCT. Implementation of LCS employing LDCT depends heavily on physician education regarding multiple factors, including eligibility criteria, potential benefits and harms, and shared decision-making. To date, there are no studies of educational approaches for teaching physicians about LCS. This study aims to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing an interactive, group-based learning (GBL) curriculum to teach physicians about LCS. A prospective study was conducted at two nearby institutions from 2017 to 2019 comparing GBL with a lecture format as measured by total knowledge about LCS, acceptability of the educational format, and ease of implementation. We surveyed participants regarding total knowledge and format acceptance. Results were compared to determine whether GBL is an effective and feasible educational strategy for LDCT and LCS education. Residents and faculty participating in GBL demonstrated greater total knowledge compared with residents and faculty participating in the lecture format. Participants in both cohorts preferred a mix of GBL and lecture formats. All participants believed that GBL facilitates implementation of LCS better than lecture-based learning. GBL is an effective and feasible approach for educating physicians about LCS, though it is more time- and resource-intensive than a lecture approach. However, healthcare providers believe GBL will facilitate implementation of LCS more than lectures.