Formative research on how faith communities can promote lung cancer screening

The National Cancer Institute, a component of the Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health, awarded Emory University $149,190 on January 21, 2026, under the Cancer Research Manpower program (CFDA 93.398) to support formative research on faith-based lung cancer screening promotion.

The award funds trainee Ms. Anderson to conduct research on the readiness of faith communities in Georgia to promote lung cancer screening, with particular focus on African American populations who experience disproportionately high lung cancer incidence and mortality rates. The research includes three specific aims: (1) interviews with current and former smokers in Georgia to explore barriers and facilitators to lung cancer screening and the potential role of churches in screening promotion; (2) a scoping review of existing faith-based cancer screening programs to identify components applicable to lung cancer screening interventions; and (3) an organizational readiness assessment among ministry leaders using a church readiness survey. Deliverables consist of data on determinants of lung cancer screening among smokers and churches' readiness to implement lung cancer screening program components, intended to inform development of faith-based lung cancer screening interventions targeting at-risk individuals. The award also supports trainee development of Ms. Anderson as an NIH-funded independent investigator in cancer prevention and control.

Performance occurs in Atlanta, Georgia, through July 31, 2027.

Abstract

Black or african american men experience the highest lung cancer incidence (60.6 per 100,000 people) and mortality rates (45.7 per 100,000 people) compared to any other racial/ethnic group of both men and women and african americans are much less likely to undergo lung cancer screening compared to their white counterparts. Faith-based settings have proven to be an effective implementation setting for promoting cancer screenings among african americans, but the ability of faith-based settings to serve as a setting to promote lung cancer screening is underexplored. To address these gaps, the trainee (MS. Anderson) will collect data related to the readiness of african american faith communities in georgia to promote lung cancer screening. Guided by the precede-proceed model, the specific aims are to (1) explore barriers and facilitators to lung cancer screening through interviews with african-american smokers in georgia with special attention to the potential role of the church in lung cancer screening promotion through interviews; (2) conduct a scoping review that examines core elements of existing faith-based cancer screening programs to identify possible program components for a faith-based lung cancer screening promotion intervention; and, (3) assess organizational readiness for implementing promising program components in a future faith-based lung cancer screening promotion program among ministry leaders using a church readiness survey. The expected outcome will be data related to determinants of lung cancer screening among african americans and the readiness among african american churches to implement lung cancer screening program components for a faith-based lung cancer screening intervention. This knowledge can inform the development of faith-based lung cancer screening promotion interventions that prioritize african americans. Additionally, this work will support the training of MS. Anderson, who is committed to becoming an NIH-funded independent investigator in cancer prevention and control, health equity, and implementation science. MS. Anderson's three-year training plan includes: (1) formally develop methodological skills and expand knowledge in implementation science and intervention development in the context of cancer prevention and control, (2) develop knowledge of community-engaged research and gain experience collaborating with african american faith communities, and (3) develop skills in mixed-methods approaches for intervention development, including measurement and survey development and qualitative research. The team of mentors, DR. Kegler (primary sponsor), DR. Epps (CO-sponsor), DR. Guan (collaborator), DR. Morshed (collaborator), and DR. Higgins (expert advisor) will provide oversight, guidance, and mentorship throughout the course of the fellowship period in the topic areas of cancer prevention, implementation science, and mixed methods. MS. Anderson will leverage resources within the doctoral program, rollins school of public health, and emory university. The candidate, mentorship team, and the environment are extremely well situated to achieve the proposed research and training aims.