Embedding smoking cessation into lung cancer screening: Priorities of national expert stakeholders in Australia using a modified nominal group technique

OBJECTIVE: Embedding smoking cessation interventions into organised lung cancer screening programs can reduce smoking-related morbidity and mortality. This study sought to prioritise smoking cessation strategies for implementation into the Australian National Lung Cancer Screening Program. METHODS: We convened a national workshop of expert stakeholders to identify smoking cessation strategies that could be embedded into the proposed screening and assessment pathway. Using a modified nominal group technique, activities explored workforce, resourcing, equity, policy and research considerations to prioritise strategies and achieve consensus. Practical recommendations were devised from the priorities and mapped against a time-to-implementation matrix. RESULTS: Thirty-eight participants identified 19 strategies; 12 were prioritised including: four "delivery" priorities; three "equity"; two "policy"; two "research" priorities; one priority was across delivery and policy, and one across delivery and research. Priority-based recommendations ranged from being easily implementable with appropriate community engagement to requiring systems-level change achievable only with long-term policy change. CONCLUSIONS: The expert-identified priorities and recommendations can directly inform improvements to embed smoking cessation interventions into the National Lung Cancer Screening Program. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH: Priorities and recommendations to embed smoking cessation interventions are ready for translation into the National Lung Cancer Screening Program and may result in improved participant outcomes.