Using social media to boost lung cancer screening in high-risk older adults
Official title: Leveraging Social Media to Increase Lung Cancer Screening Awareness, Knowledge and Uptake in High-Risk Populations
Funded at Hackensack University Medical Center · NIH-11167562 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses targeted social media messages and tailored decision support to help older adults at higher risk learn about and choose lung cancer screening.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hackensack University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hackensack, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,368,048 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA263662-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11167562 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults at increased lung cancer risk, particularly people with a history of smoking who meet current screening guidelines.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not eligible for lung cancer screening, do not use social media, or already have a recent screening are unlikely to benefit from this outreach.
What this research studies
You would see targeted messages on popular social media platforms aimed at people at higher risk for lung cancer before they visit a doctor. The team delivers tailored health information and decision-support tools to help you understand what screening involves, who is eligible, and how to arrange a low-dose CT scan. They will track whether these messages increase awareness, reduce perceived barriers, and lead eligible people to complete screening. The program focuses on reaching diverse, screening-eligible older adults who might not otherwise hear about lung cancer screening.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more high-risk people could learn about and complete lung cancer screening, which may detect cancers earlier and improve outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous social-media campaigns have improved awareness for other cancer screenings, but using tailored social-media outreach specifically to increase lung cancer screening is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Hackensack University Medical Center
Hackensack, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Carter-Bawa, Lisa — Hackensack University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Carter-Bawa, Lisa
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Digital health strategies to expand lung cancer screening in safety-net clinics
A funded project aims to help low-resource clinics increase the use of lung cancer screening for patients who smoke or are at risk.
-
Integrated approach to lung screening and quitting for African Americans
A multi-level program aims to boost LDCT lung cancer screening uptake and help African American smokers quit, with support from a comprehensive community-focused plan.
-
Population health approach to boost lung cancer screening at community clinics
A large Utah project aims to help community clinics reach more eligible adults to get low-dose CT lung cancer screening.
-
Group-based tobacco treatment for older adults after lung cancer screening
A study tests a group-based tobacco cessation program for older adults who are getting lung cancer screening to help them quit smoking.
-
Personalized Lung Cancer Screening for Veterans
Aimed at improving who gets screened and how lung cancer is diagnosed among Veterans using personalized tools.
-
Proteogenomic framework to improve lung cancer screening with biomarkers
A biomarker-based approach aims to refine LDCT lung cancer screening so more cancers are caught early while reducing unnecessary procedures.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.