Can patient navigation improve receipt of recommended breast cancer care? Evidence from the National Patient Navigation Research Program.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Poor and underserved women face barriers in receiving timely and appropriate breast cancer care. Patient navigators help individuals overcome these barriers, but little is known about whether patient navigation improves quality of care. The purpose of this study is to examine whether navigated women with breast cancer are more likely to receive recommended standard breast cancer care.

Patients and methods

Women with breast cancer who participated in the national Patient Navigation Research Program were examined to determine whether the care they received included the following: initiation of antiestrogen therapy in patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer; initiation of postlumpectomy radiation therapy; and initiation of chemotherapy in women younger tha

SUBMITTER: Ko NY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4145185 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature