LUNGevity: Lung Cancer Stigma Community Based Participatory Research

Lung cancer is the deadliest form of cancer, with the five year survival rate being 18.6%. Survival rates are even lower for intersectional underserved groups. Stigma about having lung cancer is very common, with 95% of lung cancer patients reporting lung cancer stigma. Stigma leads to higher rates of depressive symptoms, lower disclosure of smoking, lower likelihood of engaging with smoking cessation services, and decreased likelihood of following through on treatment recommendations. Lung cancer stigma and intersectional stigma related to minoritized group status leads to increased morbidity and mortality and health disparities. Mindfulness interventions have been shown to decrease stigma and the negative impacts of stigma, however, these interventions have never been tested to decrease lung cancer stigma specifically.

In this study, the investigators propose an innovative Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) methodology to build and optimize a brief virtual mindfulness intervention to decrease lung cancer stigma. Using an innovative approach that combines Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and MOST, the investigators will first build a diverse coalition of lung cancer patients on a participatory action council per CBPR best practice models, with community members as equal stakeholders and part of the research team at every stage of the project. This study aims to:

Test mindfulness intervention components for lung cancer stigma in lung cancer patients to improve lung cancer treatment outcomes (i.e., patient-provider communication, willingness to accept referral to tobacco cessation, and quit rates).

Assess preliminary efficacy of these interventions on lung cancer stigma among lung cancer patients by race, ethnicity and sexual/gender classification.

Explore reach, acceptability and satisfaction of a mindfulness intervention to address lung cancer stigma, with a focus reaching patients in underserved groups (Black, Latinx, LGBTQ+ individuals, and low SES) in order to decrease health disparities and extend the five year survival rate.

Inclusion criteria

• Participants must be patients 18 years of age or older with a history of tobacco use to qualify for study inclusion. At least a portion of the participants will also need to be current lung cancer patients. Participants must be able to read and understand English and have normal to corrected vision and hearing.
• For the Community Advisory Board (CAB), participants must have been diagnosed with lung cancer, be at least 18 years of age or older, and self-identify as being part of an underrepresented group identity.

Exclusion criteria

• Any potential participants who do not meet the above inclusion criteria will be excluded from the study.
• Patients who are under the age of 18 and who do not have a history of tobacco use will be excluded from participating in the study.
• Individuals who cannot read or understand English or who do not have normal to corrected vision and hearing will be excluded from the study.