Factors Influencing Willingness to Undergo Lung Cancer Screening in the Future: A Cross-Sectional Study of Japanese University Students

TL;DR

This study explores what influences Japanese university students' willingness to get lung cancer screening in the future.

Contribution

The study identifies specific barriers to lung cancer screening among young Japanese adults.

Findings

Most students (70.9%) expressed willingness to undergo lung cancer screening in the future.

Current smoking and anxiety about screening content were significant barriers to willingness.

Educational interventions in universities are recommended to address these barriers.

Abstract

Lung cancer (LC) is currently the leading cause of cancer deaths in Japan. Early detection through lung cancer screening (LCS) is important for reducing mortality. Therefore, exploring the factors affecting willingness to undergo LCS, particularly among young people, is important. This study aimed to elucidate the inclination toward LCS and its determining factors among Japanese university students. This cross-sectional study, involving 10,969 Japanese university students, was conducted in April 2023. A Pearson’s chi-square test and a binomial logistic regression analysis were used to analyze factors related to the dependent variable, willingness to undergo LCS in the future. Out of the 6779 participants (61.8%) involved in this study, 6504 (95.9%) provided valid responses, and 4609 (70.9%) expressed a willingness to undergo LCS in the future. Analysis revealed current smoking as a barrier to future willingness to undergo LCS. Other barriers included postponing the age of screening, anxiety about the screening content, and concerns about the possibility of having cancer after screening. Addressing barriers, such as current smoking and anxiety about screening, that prevent young people from undergoing LCS in the future is crucial. Therefore, universities should provide opportunities to educate students about LCS and explore various educational methods.

Full text

1. Introduction

Lung cancer (LC) is a common malignancy globally [1,2]. In Japan, LC represents the highest number of reported cancer deaths [3] and is a major clinical challenge. In general, early-stage LC manifests without symptoms and is often in an advanced stage by the time symptoms appear. Advanced LC is difficult to cure and involves substantial medical costs [4]. Therefore, early detection and treatment are essential. The early detection of LC through lung cancer screening (LCS) is crucial for reducing mortality [5]. Since 1987, Japan has implemented nationwide annual LCSs using chest radiography for people aged 40 years and above, supplementing it with sputum cytology for heavy smokers [5]. In Japan, low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is also being studied in order to evaluate its effectiveness in screening high-risk individuals [6].

Smoking is widely recognized as one of the risk factors for LC [7,8]. Although it varies by country, the relative risk of LC for Japanese smokers compared to non-smokers is 4.4 times higher in men and 2.8 times higher in women [9]. Of further concern is that the median age at LC diagnosis is lower in populations with a higher smoking prevalence [10]. Despite this, a previous Japanese study reported that current smokers were less likely to undergo LCS compared to non-smokers [11]. Other barriers to receiving LCS include cognitive factors such as limited information [12] and ignorance [13], access-related factors such as lack of recommendations by health care providers [12], psychological factors such as concerns about LC [12] and negative attitudes towards LCS outcomes [13], and the inconvenience associated with accessing LCSs [13]. The LCS process varies across countries owing to varying evidence [14]. However, its effectiveness is often debated [15], with low screening rates observed among the target population [15] in countries where screening programs exist. Even in Japan, the LCS rate for those aged 40–79 is not high, at 53.4% for men and 45.6% for women [16]. Therefore, further research is needed to understand the barriers hindering a willingness to undergo LCS.

Therefore, this study aimed to determine the inclination of college students towards undergoing LCS and the factors influencing it. In this study, we hypothesized that in addition to smoking history [11], knowledge of LC and LCS, and the psychological factors [12,13] identified in previous studies, other factors, including experience with cancer education, could influence college students’ intentions to undergo LCS. Additionally, nicotine dependence [17] and the number of cigarettes smoked daily [11] are associated with smokers’ participation in several cancer screening programs. However, smoking paraphernalia has recently diversified in Japan [18]. Therefore, in this study, we also examined various smoking devices used by university students.

To our knowledge, no studies have investigated the factors influencing willingness to undergo LCS among college students. Our rationale for studying college students and focusing on LC is as follows: We considered college students to be a crucial demographic capable of enhancing their knowledge and awareness regarding LC prevention practices and smoking cessation. Although smoking is a major risk factor for LC, college students encompass different age groups that can legally start smoking. Furthermore, with the recent increase in the incidence of LC among young people [19], identifying factors that influence young people’s future intention to undergo LCS is important for preventive medicine and public health.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Study Design and Participants

This cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2023 at a single comprehensive university in Aichi, Japan. This university comprises many faculties, including humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and medicine. We studied 10,969 undergraduate students enrolled at this university. Participants were recruited at the beginning of each semester during orientation meetings and other opportunities. Consequently, 6779 students (61.8%) participated in this study, of which 6504 (95.9%) provided valid responses.

A statistical power analysis, using the software IBM SPSS version 27 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), was conducted in order to determine the sample size needed for this study. The results showed that a sample size of 183 was required to achieve a power of 0.8, a significance level of 0.05, and 28 explanatory variables. The sample size used in this study met this requirement.

This study was approved by the Chubu University Ethics Review Committee (Approval No.: 20220100).

2.2. Survey

Data collection was conducted using Google Forms (https://www.google.com/forms/about/). Participants responded to the survey anonymously.

2.2.1. Willingness to Undergo LCS in the Future

Participants were asked to indicate their willingness to undergo LCS in the future by answering “yes” or “no”. There are two types of LCSs in Japan: population-based screenings, generally conducted by municipalities and other public entities, and opportunity-based screenings, which is voluntary for individuals. Both types are designed for asymptomatic individuals. In this study, LCS was defined as one of these two types, without limitation.

2.2.2. Elementary Item

In addition to basic information such as grade, faculty, physical illness, hospitalization history, and cancer screening experience, participants also answered questions about their lifestyle, smoking habits, and familiarity with anti-smoking campaigns. The term “cancer screening experience” in this context referred to voluntary cancer screening, distinct from any general health checkups that participants receive at school or other institutions.

2.2.3. Experience with Cancer Education, Willingness to Attend, Concerns about Cancer, and Knowledge and Awareness of LC and LCS

In order to ensure the validity of the questions, the present study was based on previous research [12,13], and questions regarding knowledge and perception of LC and LCS, psychological factors, and cancer education experience were formulated to examine their potential influence on college students’ intentions to receive LCSs.

Specifically, participants were asked about their past experiences with and receptiveness towards cancer education, alongside their concerns about cancer. Regarding general knowledge about LC and smoking, they were asked about the number of LC cases and deaths in Japan and the relationship between smoking (including passive smoking) and LC. Questions about LCS included the perceived health benefits of undergoing LCS and whether they were concerned about undergoing LCS due to lack of information about the LCS process. In addition, the reason for asking about age and LCS, regardless of their intention to undergo LCS, was to ascertain whether attitudes toward undergoing LCS at an earlier or later age influenced their willingness to undergo LCS.

2.2.4. Additional Questions for Current Smokers

Smoking status, particularly number of cigarettes smoked per day [11], nicotine dependence [17], etc., has been reported to be associated with participation in several cancer screening programs, and several additional questions were provided for smokers.

Current smokers were asked about the smoking paraphernalia they use, the duration they have smoked, the number of cigarettes smoked daily, and their interest in smoking cessation. Additionally, the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) was used to measure physical nicotine dependence [20]. The FTND questions included (1) “How many cigarettes do you smoke daily?”, (2) “How soon do you smoke your first cigarette after waking up?”, (3) “Do you find it difficult to refrain from smoking in places where it is forbidden?”, (4) “Which cigarette would you hate most to give up?”, (5) “Do you smoke more frequently during the first hours after waking than during the rest of the day?”, and (6) “Do you smoke when you are seriously sick and in bed most of the day?” [21]. The FTND indicates low dependence with a total score of 0–3, moderate with 4–6, and high dependence with 7–10 [21]. In previous studies, Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for this scale ranged from 0.56 to 0.92, validating its reliability and generalizability [22]. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient in this study was 0.71, indicating relatively good reliability.

2.3. Statistical Analysis

A Pearson’s chi-square test was used to analyze differences in college students’ willingness to undergo LCS in the future, considering several explanatory variables, including smoking history and prior cancer education. Next, a binomial logistic regression analysis (increasing variable method) was conducted, with significant explanatory variables entered in order to identify important predictors of the dependent variable, willingness to undergo LCS. Furthermore, the same analysis was conducted in order to identify predictors of the intention to undergo LCS in the future among college students who are current smokers.

Dummy variables were assigned to the dependent variable “Are you willing to undergo LCS in the future?” and to the responses of each explanatory variable with “Yes” represented as 1 and “No” as 0. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for each explanatory variable were calculated. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. SPSS version 27 was used for the statistical analyses.

3. Results

3.1. Study Participants

The characteristics of the participants are presented in Table 1. The mean age of the participants was 19.5 years, with a standard deviation of 1.3 years. Among the participants, 4290 (66.0%) were male, 1036 (15.9%) were undergraduate medical students, and 298 (4.6%) were current smokers.

3.2. Willingness to Undergo LCS and Related Factors

In total, 4609 respondents (70.9%) indicated their willingness to undergo LCS in the future. As shown in Table 2, differences in willingness to undergo LCS were observed based on sex (p < 0.01), faculty (p < 0.01), residential status (p < 0.05), hospitalization history (p < 0.05), and prior cancer screening (p < 0.01). Conversely, sleep duration, alcohol consumption, and exercise habits showed no significant differences. Analysis of smoking history revealed that the non-smoking group had a particularly high percentage of individuals willing to undergo LCS (p < 0.01). Furthermore, a higher percentage of those in the groups interested in social campaigns to promote smoking cessation and who were educated on smoking cessation were more willing to undergo LCS (all p < 0.01).

The results of the tabulation and analysis regarding willingness to undergo LCS (Table 3) encompass various factors such as experience of and education on cancer, concerns about cancer, knowledge about LC and smoking, and LCS awareness. These factors were significantly associated with a willingness to undergo LCS. For example, those educated on cancer were more likely to be willing to undergo LCS (p < 0.01). Other groups expressing concerns about potentially developing cancer in the future had a higher proportion of individuals willing to undergo LCS (p < 0.01). Conversely, individuals who expressed no concerns exhibited a greater willingness to undergo LCS compared to those who expressed concerns about the possibility of detecting LC after undergoing LCS (p < 0.01). Furthermore, when asked, “If you were to undergo LCS in the future, at what age would you be willing to have it?” the results revealed a higher percentage of respondents who indicated no intention of undergoing LCS in the “40s to 50s” and “60s or later” groups (p < 0.01).

The results of the analysis of participants who currently smoke are presented in Table 4 and Table 5. The group that had already undergone cancer screening had a higher percentage of those willing to undergo LCS (p < 0.01). Weak but significant differences were also observed for factors including faculty, drinking habits, interest in social campaigns promoting smoking cessation, education about smoking cessation, and intention to quit smoking in the future (all p < 0.05). Conversely, the statistical results showed no differences in smoking paraphernalia, smoking duration, number of cigarettes smoked daily, and nicotine dependence in terms of willingness to undergo LCS (Table 4). Except for a few factors, significant differences were observed in the association between factors such as experience with cancer education, willingness to undergo LCS, cancer anxiety, knowledge about LC and smoking, and LCS awareness (Table 5).

Table 6 presents the results from the logistic regression analysis. Across the entire sample, the following factors were positively correlated with a willingness to undergo LCS (all p < 0.01): interest in social campaigns promoting smoking cessation, having undergone cancer screening and education, willingness to receive cancer education in the future, harboring concerns about developing cancer in the future, awareness that smoking is a risk factor for developing LC, awareness of the existence of LCS, perceiving LCS as beneficial for one’s health, and knowing where to access LCSs. Conversely, being a current smoker was a negative factor (p < 0.05). Other negative factors were that if they were to undergo LCS in the future, they were in their “40s to 50s” (vs. 20s to 30s) and “60s or older” (vs. 20s to 30s), and being concerned about finding cancer after undergoing LCS (all p < 0.01).

In the analysis focused on current smokers, willingness to receive cancer education in the future, fear of developing cancer in the future, and feeling that undergoing LCS would be beneficial for their health were positive factors associated with a willingness to undergo LCS (all p < 0.01). Conversely, undergoing LCS at an age over 60 years (vs. 20–30 years) was considered a negative factor but was not statistically significant in this model (p = 0.062).

4. Discussion

This study investigated factors influencing willingness to undergo LCS in the future among Japanese university students. Current smoking was identified as a barrier influencing willingness to undergo LCS. Other barriers identified include postponing the age of screening, anxiety about the screening process, and fear of having cancer after screening. Among smokers, the smoking device used, smoking duration, number of cigarettes smoked daily, and nicotine dependence did not significantly influence intention to undergo LCS.

Several previous studies have reported an association between various cancer screenings and smoking status, indicating lower adherence to screening guidelines among smokers compared to non-smokers [23,24]. A previous study analyzing participants aged 40–64 years in Japan also reported that current smokers were less likely to undergo LCS compared to non-smokers [11]. The possibility that current college-age smokers may also be reluctant to undergo LCS in the future, as shown in this study, is noteworthy. Furthermore, prior studies have reported that among smokers, those with higher nicotine dependence were less likely to have undergone some form of cancer screenings [17]. The number of cigarettes smoked daily is also associated with participation in several cancer screenings, including LCS [11]. In contrast, our study showed that neither the number of cigarettes smoked daily nor nicotine dependence was associated with a willingness to undergo LCS among college students who currently smoke. Moreover, despite the rising popularity of new smoking devices, such as heat-not burn (HNB) cigarettes and electronic cigarettes, in the United States and Japan [25,26], the smoking device used might not influence intention to undergo LCS, as indicated in this study. Therefore, campaigns recommending LCS to college students who currently smoke should be implemented regardless of the number of cigarettes smoked, nicotine dependence level, or type of smoking equipment used.

Numerous studies have shown that the risk of various types of cancer increases with earlier initiation to smoking [27,28,29]. Additionally, quitting smoking at a younger age reduces the risk of developing cancer and death [30]. This study revealed that interest in social campaigns promoting smoking cessation and recognizing smoking as a risk factor for developing LC may positively influence the intention to undergo LCS. Furthermore, over 60% of the respondents in this study had received cancer education and were willing to be educated in the future. College student awareness of the risk of LC is associated with cancer prevention behaviors among college students, such as smoking cessation [31]. College students fall within the age group legally permitted to start smoking in Japan, underscoring the importance of efforts geared towards improving prevention strategies, such as smoking cessation programs for college students, along with recommendations for LCS visits.

In this study, anxiety about future cancer and the perceived benefits of undergoing LCS were considered positive factors influencing willingness to undergo LCS. Conversely, anxiety about the possibility of having cancer after undergoing LCS was a negative factor, and negative attitudes toward LCS outcomes may be a barrier to undergoing LCS at the individual level [13]. General benefits from LCS include a decreased likelihood of cancer-related mortality and the possibility of avoiding a lower quality of life and poor prognosis through early disease detection before progression. Providing education that helps participants overcome the dilemma of anxiety versus benefit is crucial.

Japanese cancer screening guidelines [32] recommend combining LCS with chest radiography and sputum cytology (currently for smokers) for both population-based and opportunistic screenings. Additionally, in opportunistic screening, LDCT is considered on an individual basis; the location of the LCS depends on these two approaches. Our findings indicate that anxiety regarding unfamiliarity with the LCS test procedure and knowledge about the LCS location influenced intention to undergo the LCS test. Overcoming anxiety about the checkup process and providing information about screening locations may also encourage future visitation.

LCS population-based screenings conducted by Japanese municipalities and other organizations typically recommend screening people over the age of 40 years annually. However, several studies have noted the increased incidence of LC in young people [19,33]. This study introduces a novel discovery that postponing consultation to a later age is associated with a reduced intention to seek medical attention. Since early detection and surgical treatment can potentially improve prognosis, early LCS should be actively promoted among young people [34].

A significant limitation of this study is the novelty of the data, as it represents the first insights from university students, rendering comparisons with prior studies challenging, despite approximately 70% of participants expressing a willingness to undergo LCS. This is because, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first data collected on college students. Other countries besides Japan that have LCS programs include Canada, South Korea, Croatia, and the United States [15]. Within the limited available literature, willingness to undergo LCS in the United States ranged from 82.8% to 92.8% [35,36]. Although it is difficult to generalize due to different age groups and attributes, it is plausible that, in comparison, the inclination of Japanese university students to undergo LCS is not as high. However, further discussion is warranted in order to determine whether this reflects differences in culture, values, and methods of public awareness across countries. In addition, the possibility of selection bias resulting from those who declined to participate in this study should be considered, particularly as this cross-sectional study was conducted at a single institution. Furthermore, although the university surveyed is coeducational, they unintentionally have a higher percentage of male students due to the composition of their faculties. Therefore, the results may not accurately reflect the general population.

Although this study explored willingness to undergo LCS, the actual rate of LCS screening was not investigated. Regarding smoking, as of 2019, the adult smoking rate in Japan remains high at 27.1% for men and 7.6% for women [37]. However, the current smoking rate among the participants of this study was relatively low at 4.6%. In addition, approximately half of the smokers in this study used paper cigarettes, and approximately 17% used HNB cigarettes, deviating from the general usage rates in Japan [38,39]. Given these considerations, one must be cautious about generalizing the results. Furthermore, a high percentage of the participants in this study were “living with family”. This is expected to be due to the fact that many of the respondents are from the area where the target university is located, but we have not been able to ascertain the typical prevalence of smoking cessation and cancer prevention education in this area. Furthermore, this study investigated population-based and opportunistic LCS, including unstandardized tests such as chest radiography and LDCT. However, the process or accuracy of these screenings was not discussed. Finally, factors associated with the intention to undergo LCS other than those identified in this study may exist. For example, health beliefs and management status, as well as a history of cancer in close relatives. Further studies from a broader perspective are warranted.

However, the strength of this study is that it was conducted at a comprehensive university with faculties in several disciplines that attract students from across the country. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on willingness to undergo LCS among university students. The results of this study are important for preventive medicine and public health, and may be useful for developing educational programs on LC and LCS at universities.

5. Conclusions

This study assessed the willingness of 6504 Japanese university students to undergo LCS, as well as the barriers and facilitators associated with this willingness. Immediate action is required to address barriers, such as smoking and screening-related anxiety, identified in this study as factors that influence young people’s willingness to undergo LCS in the future. Therefore, we advocate for universities to offer comprehensive insights into LCS and smoking cessation, emphasizing the need to explore effective educational methods.