Improving Lung Cancer Education and Screening Navigation Skills Among HBCU Health Trainees: A Pilot Study of Program CONNECT

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, disproportionately affecting Black communities due to delayed diagnoses and low screening rates. While these disparities persist, few educational interventions aim to equip health professional trainees—particularly those at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)—with the knowledge and confidence to address them. Empowering providers early in their training through culturally tailored education may help build a more prepared, equity-focused workforce. The purpose of this project was to evaluate a culturally tailored lung cancer education program, Program CONNECT, for health professional trainees at HBCUs. Program CONNECT was implemented in regions where lung cancer mortality among Black populations was ≥ 1.6 times higher than among White populations. From August to September 2024, healthcare trainees in nursing, medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry participated in a 90-min workshop covering lung cancer disparities, screening guidelines, and navigation strategies. A 21-item pre/post-test assessed changes in knowledge, beliefs, and self-efficacy. Participants (N = 100) were primarily nursing (63%), followed by pharmacy (29%), dentistry (5%), and medical (1%) students. While over half had healthcare experience, few had prior training in lung cancer navigation. Post-training, stigma related to personal responsibility for lung cancer significantly decreased (p = 0.005). Knowledge improved regarding risk factors, screening eligibility, disparities, and biomarker testing (p < 0.001). Confidence in identifying screening-eligible individuals, addressing barriers, and conducting difficult conversations improved significantly (p < 0.001). Recognition of ineligible screening scenarios increased, though shared decision-making knowledge remained unchanged. Interest in pursuing a cancer-related specialty rose from 66 to 78% (p < 0.001). Program CONNECT significantly improved knowledge and navigation self-efficacy among HBCU health trainees. Expanding this training across HBCUs may strengthen oncology workforce diversity and promote more equitable lung cancer outcomes in high-disparity communities.