Mr Nathan Harrison speaks to ecancer at WCLC 2023 about a systematic review conducted into stigma-reducing interventions for lung cancer and other smoking-related respiratory diseases.

He explains that patients face stigma that is deeply rooted in the links with smoking behaviours, which has over time perpetuated negative attitudes and misconceptions about those affected by lung cancer and other smoking-related respiratory diseases. For these patients this stigma is often related to poorer psycho-social outcomes.

Mr Harrison outlines the background and methodology of review, which aimed to systemically identify stigma-reducing interventions written in existing peer-review literature. The systematic review identified ten studies which described stigma-reducing interventions and conducted a narrative synthesis. The review found most interventions were designed for individuals who were symptomatic or in high-risk groups and the majority of studies were conducted in high-income countries.

He concludes by suggesting how these review results might help lung cancer patients in the future.