PDSA practice guide Up to 9 CPD hrs

National lung cancer screening

The National Lung Cancer Screening Program launched on 1 July 2025, offering free low-dose CT scans to eligible Australians at high risk of lung cancer. GPs are the gateway: eligibility assessment, referral, results management and follow-up all sit with the practice.

AuthorDr Chris Mitchell AM

CPD hoursUp to 9 CPD hrs

CycleOne quarter, Plan-Do-Study-Act

The cycle updates smoking history at the point of care, calculates pack-years, finds patients who already meet the eligibility criteria through database search, and builds a standardised reminder and referral pathway. The worked example prepares a practice of 14 GPs across three data collection periods.

What the guide covers

Identifying eligible patients

Smoking history updated at the point of care, pack-year calculation, and the database search that finds patients who already meet the eligibility criteria.

Building the pathway

A standardised recall and reminder name, the referral pathway to low-dose CT, and the Best Practice shortcut text that keeps eligibility advice consistent across every GP.

Clinical knowledge base

Eligibility criteria, pack-year calculation, the four-step program process, results management, costs, the National Cancer Screening Register and smoking cessation support.

CPD hours from this cycle

Up to 9 hours per participating GP when submitted as a practice-based or group activity: 3 hours educational activities, 3 hours reviewing performance, 3 hours measuring outcomes. Nurses record their participation toward the NMBA 20-hour requirement. A certified practice manager can claim the coordination work as professional development, on AAPM's conditions. The completed workbook is the supporting evidence.

Educational activities (3 hrs): The program specifications, eligibility criteria and the practice knowledge base.
Reviewing performance (3 hrs): Smoking history recording and eligibility identification reviewed against practice targets.
Measuring outcomes (3 hrs): Smoking histories, discussions, eligible patients and reminders tracked across the data collection periods.

CPD figures verified against the guide and the CPD home handbooks, 15 July 2026.

Screening value

Earlier detection

Lung cancer has a five-year survival rate of 27%, driven by late presentation. Systematic eligibility assessment supports earlier detection in a high-risk group, and the program projects more than 500 deaths prevented annually.

Continuity and cessation

A recall cohort with cessation support built into the screening conversation supports continuity of care and improves outcomes whatever the screening result.

Key topics

Eligibility criteria and pack-year calculation
Smoking history recording and database search
Standardised reminders and the referral pathway
Results management and MBS items
Smoking cessation support and pharmacotherapy

Who this is for

Practice managers and nurses responsible for recall and reminder systems, smoking history recording and screening pathways
GP practice owners and GPs preparing the practice for the National Lung Cancer Screening Program, with a documented CPD outcome
Reception and clinical staff who hold the point-of-care smoking history step

Choose your format

Open the interactive workbook

Type into it as you go; saves on your computer

Read the guide

Read online, print to PDF for your records

Download the PDF

A4 PDF for printing or your records

Author: Dr Chris Mitchell AM, FAICD, general practitioner and co-founder of Medius Global. This guide documents cycles run in his own practice. Editorial and review process.