Mobile Cancer Screening Services in the Contemporary Screening Era: A Systematic Scoping Review of Recent Implementation and Future Directions

Abstract

Mobile cancer screening services in the US aim to expand access to underserved and frequently underscreened populations. As screening approaches evolve in complexity (e.g., risk stratification, supplemental modalities), there is a need for updated reviews to understand how mobile screening programs are implemented, identify gaps in incorporating new screening complexities, and identify research and implementation priorities to best optimize the impact of mobile cancer screening on underscreened populations. This scoping review synthesizes information from 36 articles published from 2010 to 2025 on the development, implementation, and evaluation of mobile breast and lung cancer screening services in the U.S. The review further summarizes reported barriers and facilitators to mobile screening services, reported performance outcomes, and how community engagement strategies are incorporated in mobile cancer screening planning, delivery, and evaluation. Most articles describe using community outreach or consultation, with few reaching community collaboration or shared leadership. We identify research directions to inform effective mobile cancer screening programs, including comparative studies to identify optimal development or implementation strategies and greater community collaboration.