Optimising recruitment to a lung cancer screening trial: a comparison of general practitioner and community-based recruitment

Scobie, H., Robb, K. A. , Macdonald, S. , Harrow, S. and Sullivan, F. (2023) Optimising recruitment to a lung cancer screening trial: a comparison of general practitioner and community-based recruitment. Journal of Medical Screening, (doi: 10.1177/09691413231190785) (PMID:37525582) (Early Online Publication)

Abstract

Objectives: Pre-trial focus groups of the Early detection of Cancer of the Lung Scotland (ECLS) trial indicated that those at high risk of lung cancer are more likely to engage with community-based recruitment methods. The current study aimed to understand if general practitioner (GP) and community-based recruitment might attract different groups of people, and to quantitatively explore the demographic and psychosocial differences between people responding to GP or community-based recruitment. Design: Secondary data analysis of ECLS trial baseline data. Methods: Adults (n = 11,164) aged 50 to 75 years completed a baseline questionnaire as part of their participation in the ECLS trial. The questionnaire assessed smoking behaviour, health state, health anxiety and illness perception. Alongside demographic characteristics, how participants were made aware of the study/participant recruitment method (GP recruitment/community recruitment) was also obtained via trial records. Results: The likelihood of being recruited via community-based methods increased as deprivation level decreased. Those recruited via the community had higher levels of perceived personal control of developing lung cancer and were more likely to understand their own risk of developing lung cancer, compared to those who were recruited to the trial via their GP. Health state and health anxiety did not predict recruitment methods in multivariable analysis. Conclusions: Community and opportunistic screening invitations were associated with uptake in people from less-deprived backgrounds, and therefore might not be the optimal method to reach those at high risk of lung cancer and living in more deprived areas.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was funded by the Medical Research Council.
• Status: Early Online Publication
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Scobie, Dr Hannah and Macdonald, Professor Sara and Robb, Professor Katie
• Authors: Scobie, H., Robb, K. A., Macdonald, S., Harrow, S., and Sullivan, F.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > General Practice and Primary Care; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Journal Name: Journal of Medical Screening
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• ISSN: 0969-1413
• ISSN (Online): 1475-5793
• Published Online: 01 August 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Journal of Medical Screening 2023
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License