Matthew Triplette, MD, MPH, BA

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death among American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) men and women and AIANs have the higher rates of smoking than any other racial or ethnic group in the United States. Previous research suggests AIANs face several health disparities including reduced access to preventive health services. Lung cancer screening (LCS) with low-dose chest CT can reduce mortality for high-risk current and former smokers, particularly when combined with effective tobacco cessation. LCS involves a multiple step process through a multifaceted medical system; patient navigation can help AIAN screen eligible individuals overcome complex and multilevel barriers to LCS. We will partner with local AIAN stakeholders and patients to develop, pilot, and evaluate a culturally tailored LCS navigation program including smoking cessation, which we believe will increase the uptake of successful screening and smoking cessation in this population. This is the first study to pilot and evaluate directed and tailored efforts to implement evidence-based LCS and smoking cessation among AIAN screen eligible persons through a LCS navigation intervention.