Impact of patient navigation on timely cancer care: the Patient Navigation Research Program.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Patient navigation is a promising intervention to address cancer disparities but requires a multisite controlled trial to assess its effectiveness.

Methods

The Patient Navigation Research Program compared patient navigation with usual care on time to diagnosis or treatment for participants with breast, cervical, colorectal, or prostate screening abnormalities and/or cancers between 2007 and 2010. Patient navigators developed individualized strategies to address barriers to care, with the focus on preventing delays in care. To assess timeliness of diagnostic resolution, we conducted a meta-analysis of center- and cancer-specific adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) comparing patient navigation vs usual care. To assess initiation of cancer therapy, we calculated a single a

SUBMITTER: Freund KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4072900 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature