CompletedObservational

Testing whether home urine kits increase lung cancer screening participation

This study, called UH-CAN LUNG, wants to see if sending a home urine test kit might encourage more people to take part in lung cancer screening. Lung cancer is a big problem in the UK, often found too late. The NHS has a screening programme for people aged 55-74 with a smoking history, but many don't respond to invitations. Reasons include fear of a cancer diagnosis or scans, and practical issues like travel. This study will send a simple urine kit to 1,000 non-responders to see if they'll send back a sample and a short questionnaire. The goal is to find new ways to make early lung cancer checks more accessible and increase participation.

At a glance

Status

Completed

Sponsor

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

Enrolment target

1,000

Start

24 Feb 2026

Estimated completion

30 Apr 2026

Lung cancer

What is this study about?

Lung cancer is a serious illness, and sadly, it's often found when it's already advanced and harder to treat. In the UK, many late diagnoses could be avoided. To help with this, the NHS launched a Lung Cancer Screening programme for people aged 55 to 74 who have a history of smoking, as they are at higher risk. This programme invites people for a health check, and if they're found to be at high risk, they get a special low-dose CT scan to look for early signs of cancer.

However, more than half of the people invited to this screening don't respond. This could be for various reasons, like worrying about a cancer diagnosis, being concerned about radiation from CT scans, or simply finding it hard to get to appointments due to work or travel costs. This study, called UH-CAN LUNG, wants to find out if offering a home-based test could help overcome these problems and encourage more people to take part.

Researchers will send a simple home urine test kit to 1,000 people who have not responded to past invitations for the NHS lung cancer screening. They want to see how many people will use the kit to provide a urine sample and fill out a short questionnaire. The urine sample will be analysed for early signs of cancer. The main goal is to understand if this home-test approach makes it easier and more acceptable for people to engage with lung cancer screening, potentially leading to more early diagnoses in the future.

Key takeaways

This study explores new ways to encourage participation in NHS lung cancer screening.
It targets people aged 55-74 with a smoking history who haven't responded to screening invites.
Participation involves providing a home urine sample and completing a short questionnaire.
It's a research study, not a personal screening test, so regular NHS screening is still important.
There are very few risks involved in taking part.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for people who are aged between 55 and 74 years old. You must also have a history of smoking, as this is a key risk factor for lung cancer.

Crucially, you would have received invitations to the NHS Lung Cancer Screening programme from the Southampton service, but you would not have responded to them, even after being sent reminders. This study specifically targets those who haven't yet taken part in the existing screening programme.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 55 and 74 years old?
Do you have a history of smoking?
Have you received invitations to the NHS Lung Cancer Screening from Southampton but not taken part?
Are you willing to send back a signed consent form, urine sample, and questionnaire?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you are chosen for this study, you won't need to visit a clinic. Instead, you'll receive a study kit in the post. This kit will contain a participant information sheet to read, a consent form to sign, a short questionnaire with 5 questions, and a kit with instructions for collecting a small urine sample. You will be asked to follow the instructions and then send back the signed consent form, your urine sample, and the completed questionnaire using a pre-paid envelope. There will be no direct follow-up contact with you once you've sent your kit back, and the total duration of your active participation will be the time it takes to complete these steps at home.

Potential risks and benefits

By taking part, you'll be contributing to important research that could help improve future lung cancer screening options for many people, potentially leading to earlier cancer diagnoses. Participating might also serve as a reminder for you to consider booking an appointment for the standard NHS Lung Cancer Screening. The risks of taking part are very small. The urine collection kit is not invasive. However, it's important to know that this home urine test is not a screening test for you personally, and you should still attend the NHS Lung Cancer Screening if you are eligible. Researchers will protect your data, but there's a very tiny chance of a security breach. You are free to decide not to take part or to withdraw at any point without it affecting your usual medical care.

Locations (1)

Southampton General Hospital
Approximate
Southampton, England

Common questions

What is the main purpose of this study?

The study aims to see if sending a home urine test kit encourages people who haven't responded to NHS lung cancer screening invitations to get tested.

Will I get my test results from the urine sample?

The study doesn't mention providing individual test results. The main goal is to understand general participation rates and whether this method is effective.

Is this study a replacement for the NHS Lung Cancer Screening?

No, this study is not a replacement. It's a research project to help improve future screening options. You are still encouraged to book your NHS Lung Cancer Screening appointment if you are eligible.

How long will I be involved in the study?

Your involvement is limited to the time it takes to read the information, sign the form, complete a short questionnaire, and provide a urine sample at home, then post it back.

Who is funding this research?

The study is funded by The Jon Moulton Charitable Trust (UK).

How to find out more

Victoria Goss

V.M.Goss@soton.ac.uk +44 (0)2381205154 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.