The use of blood biomarkers in lung cancer screening in Aotearoa New Zealand: a cross-sectional survey of Māori perspectives and preferences

AIM: As part of a broader lung cancer screening (LCS) research programme, this study explored Māori views on providing blood samples for LCS to inform future development in Aotearoa New Zealand. METHODS: Two groups (potential "screenees", and their whānau tautoko [support people]) from Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) and Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) completed surveys about LCS design, including comfort with blood donation and key factors in blood collection and use. Descriptive statistics and Fisher's tests were used to analyse responses and demographic differences. RESULTS: Most participants (83.7% screenees; 81.4% whānau) were at least "comfortable" donating blood. Key priorities were clear information about blood use (35.0%; 35.8%), protecting the health of future generations (24.1%; 23.8%) and being able to consent to specific uses (23.6%; 27.6%). Participants from Te Tai Tokerau were less comfortable donating blood than those in Tāmaki Makaurau, with additional demographic differences noted. CONCLUSIONS: Māori participants generally supported using blood samples in LCS but with regional differences. Future LCS initiatives should uphold Māori principles, including community partnership, return of benefit to whānau, management of potential harms and protection of Indigenous data and tissue sovereignty through transparent, culturally safe and trusted engagement processes.