Lung cancer screening indicators

About the data

Access the data and specifications

• Downloadable data tables
• Downloadable data specifications

How the lung screening indicators were selected

• The Pan-Canadian Lung Cancer Screening Network (PLCSN), convened by the Partnership, provides strategic direction and input on the lung cancer screening quality indicators. In 2017, the PLCSN drafted a report to define a core set of national-level quality indicators for organized lung cancer screening in Canada. In 2022, a working group came together to further develop the definitions and data specifications of these indicators to measure lung cancer screening program performance. This report reflects these 2022 revisions to the initial indicator definitions.

Indicator considerations and time frame

• Implementation status of the lung cancer screening programs varies across jurisdictions. This should be taken into consideration when interpreting the results (including comparability). At the time of data collection, British Columbia had a full, province-wide lung cancer screening program, and Alberta, Ontario and Quebec had partially implemented programs. In the time since data collection, additional jurisdictions have launched and expanded lung cancer screening programs.
• Measurement time frames were determined based on what was feasible for reporting jurisdictions during data collection (Fall 2024/Winter 2025). Because program parameters and measurement periods vary across jurisdictions, direct comparisons may not be appropriate and should be interpreted with caution. The specific measurement time frame for each indicator is provided in the corresponding footnote.
• Jurisdictions will not appear in graphs in instances where data is not available or counts are too small to report.
• The number of jurisdictions represented in an indicator’s overall result may be different from the number of jurisdictions included for the stratified results based on data availability. For example, the results by sex were not always available to report for all jurisdictions even if the overall results are available for all jurisdictions.

Acknowledgement

The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer would like to gratefully acknowledge the contributions of the following groups and individuals in the production of this report: the Pan-Canadian Lung Cancer Screening Network, members of the Lung Cancer Screening Quality Indicators Working Group, and staff from jurisdictional cancer programs and agencies.

Should you require any further information relating to the lung quality indicators please contact screening@partnershipagainstcancer.ca.