Background:

Lung cancer is the biggest cancer killer and yet receives little community awareness or fundraising towards improved research. November is Lung Cancer Awareness month and provides an opportunity to raise community awareness of lung cancer and to provide further information on current management to lung cancer sufferers and their carers.

Methods:

We organised an inaugural Lung Cancer Patient Forum at Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre on the 20th November 2014 and conducted a survey evaluation of patients’ interest in attending future similar seminars. A questionnaire evaluation was conducted at the end of the session to rate how attendees felt about the quality of the seminar and the relevance of topics discussed. The questionnaire included attendees’ overall rating of the seminar, ability to generate interest in lung cancer awareness, extent the seminar met their expectations etc.

Results:

Forty patients and their carers attended the seminar. Thirty four completed the feedback survey. 73.5% (25/34) stated that they would attend the conference again next year with the rest (26.5%) stating they were unsure or did not respond. All rated the seminar to be at least 3 out of 5 (1=poor, 2=fair, 3=good, 4=very good, 5=excellent) with 94% (32/34) rating it to be very good or excellent. All the patients felt that the seminar generated good, very good or excellent (rated ≥3) interest in lung cancer awareness and 94%(32/34) felt that the topics were of relevance to them. All attendees felt that the seminar met their expectations (rated 3 or above). When asked about factors that could improve the seminar, the main issue raised was poor audio sound quality.

Conclusion:

The Lung Cancer Patient Seminar was successful in promoting lung cancer awareness and met the expectations of participants.  The majority of the patients were interested in attending a similar seminar for the following year’s Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Lung cancer patients, carers and supporters are interested to learn more about the disease and would endorse future programs.