Focused Review: Perceptions of the Lung Cancer Screening and Evaluation Process in Spanish-speaking and Latino Communities.

[BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE] Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide and is often diagnosed at a late stage when treatment options are limited. Lung cancer screening (LCS) via low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) has been shown to reduce mortality rates in high-risk individuals. However, utilization remains low, particularly among those with lower socioeconomic status (SES) and language barriers. This narrative review aims to summarize pertinent literature which focuses on perspectives and experiences of Spanish-speaking populations involved in lung cancer screening and evaluation programs. A secondary aim is to explore cultural factors and beliefs which affect perceptions of underserved populations in lung cancer screening.

[KEY CONTENT AND FINDINGS] Lung cancer screening with LDCT; Hispanic/Latino population; Lung cancer; Barriers, Interests, and Emotions that play a role in beliefs about cancer and lung cancer screening; Underserved communities.

[METHODS] Six authors extracted articles from the PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were designed to ensure the appropriate selection of studies that align with the primary aim of understanding the cultural and systemic barriers to lung cancer screening (LCS) within the Spanish-speaking population in the United States over the past two decades. Case reports and systematic reviews were excluded to facilitate a more comprehensive analysis rather than focusing on individual cases or summaries of existing literature. Additionally, studies involving patients with advanced lung cancer were excluded, as the focus of this narrative review is to recognize the barriers to early detection of the disease, rather than the management of advanced-stage lung cancer or its treatment. The inclusion criteria were as follows: Qualitative studies, cross-sectional studies, randomized trials. Studies performed in the United States. Studies done from 2005-2024. Studies that discuss barriers to and perceptions of lung cancer screening in underserved populations including patients who identified as Latino and who speak Spanish. Studies involving lung cancer patient also describing ways cultural barriers and beliefs affect the perception of cancer screening. The exclusion criteria were as follows: Case reports and systematic reviews. Studies performed outside the United States. Studies that did not include lung cancer screening. Studies on patients with advanced lung cancer.