Max Up: Maximising uptake of lung cancer screening and smoking cessation outcomes

Background:

The Max Up research study aims to reduce the risk of lung cancer deaths by combining smoking cessation and lung cancer screening and is the first study of its kind in Australia. Lung cancer screening using low dose CT scans can reduce lung cancer mortality by 21%*. Combining smoking cessation with lung cancer screening could boost the lung cancer mortality reduction to 38%.

Eligibility:

Queenslanders aged 50 - 80 years who currently smoke and want to quit, and who want to check their lung health with a free low-dose CT scan.

What participants can expect:

Eligible patients who consent to the research study are provided free nicotine replacement therapy in conjunction with Quitline counselling. The research team will organise a free CT scan and follow up participants for 12 months.

What we are asking GPs to do:

If your patients are interested in participating in the research study, please refer them to Quitline via usual pathways, Refer a client to Quitline | Queensland Health.

The research team will onboard and consent patients. The research team will share the result of the CT scan with the nominated GP.

The Max Up research study is supported by the Medical Research Future Fund, The University of Queensland, Queensland Health, Cancer Council Australia, and Lung Foundation Australia.

*Bonney A, Malouf R, Marchal C, et al. Impact of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening on lung cancer-related mortality. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews 2022;8:CD013829.

*Tanner NT, Kanodra NM, Gebregziabher M, et al. The Association between Smoking Abstinence and Mortality in the National Lung Screening Trial. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2016; 193:534-41.