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Research Snapshot Theater: Professional Development and Education, Adult II

Clearing the Air: A Resident-Focused Quality Improvement Project on Lung Cancer Screening

Sunday, March 22, 2026
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM Central Time
Location: Connections Central - RST 15

  • Hamna Javed, MD

    Saint Agnes Medical Center, California

    Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose.

  • Ayesha Shahzad, MD (she/her/hers)

    California

    Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose.

  • MS

    Mahwish Sheikh, MD

    Resident
    Saint Agnes Medical Center, California

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • RN

    Rukhsar Nadeem, MD

    MD
    Saint Agnes Medical Center, California

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • AP

    Anupama Poliyedath, MD

    Associate Program Director
    Saint Agnes Medical Center, California

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • MH

    Mehdi Hakimipour, MD

    Designated Institutional Officer
    Saint Agnes Medical Center, California

    Disclosure information not submitted.

Introduction: Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S., yet screening practices are often underutilized or misunderstood. Internal medicine residents play a vital role in preventive care, but knowledge gaps may hinder appropriate screening recommendations. This project aims to enhance resident understanding of lung cancer screening guidelines and protocols through targeted education.


Methods: Residents first completed a 26-question pre-intervention assessment covering lung cancer epidemiology, screening guidelines, eligibility criteria, screening methods and risks, Lung-RADS classification, and smoking cessation. A 30-minute interactive lecture followed, highlighting USPSTF recommendations, key trial data (NLST, NELSON), and case-based scenarios to reinforce learning. The same quiz was administered post-intervention to assess knowledge retention, focusing on guideline comprehension, radiologic classification, and evidence-based management.


Results: A total of 46 residents (internal medicine, transitional year) & medical students completed both pre- and post-intervention questionnaires. The pre-intervention average score across all questions was 72.2%, which improved to 80.7% post-intervention—a mean increase of 8.9 percentage points.
Notable Findings:
Question 10 (regarding clinical trial evidence) showed the greatest improvement, with a gain of 17.4 percentage points.
Question 17 (likely addressing nuanced Lung-RADS classification) had the least improvement, suggesting a need for deeper reinforcement of complex radiologic criteria.
20 out of 26 questions showed an improvement in correct response rate post-lecture.
These results suggest that a targeted educational session can effectively enhance resident knowledge on lung cancer screening, particularly in areas of guideline comprehension and evidence-based eligibility criteria.
Limitations:
Small sample size from a single residency program
Short follow-up time limits long-term knowledge retention analysis
Lecture format may not address all learning styles


Conclusions: A focused educational intervention significantly improved resident knowledge of lung cancer screening guidelines. Periodic reinforcement and integration into clinical practice discussions may help sustain knowledge and promote evidence-based screening.