Evolving Lung Cancer Navigator Practice Through Targeted Professional Development

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BACKGROUND: Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, and it has persistent disparities in detection, treatment, and survivorship. Navigators, including nurses, allied health professionals, and community health workers, are central to addressing these challenges by guiding patients through care pathways and improving access to timely, high-quality care. However, these navigators receive little lung cancer-specific training, leaving a gap in workforce preparation. RESEARCH QUESTION: How do lung cancer navigators perceive the impact of a lung cancer- specific educational workshop on their knowledge, confidence, job satisfaction, role effectiveness, and multidisciplinary care contribution? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We developed the Lung Cancer Navigator Workshop, a professional development program providing lung cancer-specific education. An expert advisory board guided key curriculum content considerations, focusing on evidence-based topics such as screening, diagnosis, biomarker testing, treatment, survivorship, and stigma. The workshop was delivered in person through didactic sessions, supplemented by optional asynchronous content. Program evaluation included immediate post-workshop testing and a 9-month follow-up survey assessing perceived changes in key outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 217 participants completed the workshop. Evaluation results showed significant knowledge acquisition and sustained impact. At the 9-month follow-up, > 80% reported meaningful benefits across areas. Participants described improvements in their work, including expanding screening, standardizing diagnostic pathways, integrating risk assessments, and adopting stigma-reducing communication. Improvements were also observed in confidence and job satisfaction. INTERPRETATION: Participation in a lung cancer-specific navigator training program was associated with sustained improvements in knowledge and professional outcomes. Targeted training can strengthen the navigator workforce, reduce disparities, advance care coordination, and improve outcomes.

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