Implementing and measuring the impact of patient navigation at a comprehensive community cancer center.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To determine whether patient navigation in a comprehensive community cancer center affects patient and staff perceptions of patient preparation for treatment, access to care, and overall satisfaction. DESIGN Program evaluation with patient and staff surveys. SETTING Comprehensive community cancer center accredited by the American College of Surgeons in the southeastern United States with 1,037 analytic cases of cancer in 2007; population of the main county served is about 177,963. SAMPLE 48 patients (28 navigator and 20 non-navigator) and 26 employees, including physicians, nurses, and other support staff. METHODS A 10-item survey with Likert scale format was sent to a stratified sample of 100 newly diagnosed patients with cancer. A five-item survey with the same format was sent to 40 staff working with the patients. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLE Patient navigation. FINDINGS Patients who received navigation services responded more positively to survey statements. Statistical significance (p > 0.05) was identified in 7 of 10 statements when patient groups were compared. Provider responses indicated agreement with all five statements included in the survey. CONCLUSIONS Patients with cancer and oncology staff reported that patient navigation is effective in increasing patient satisfaction and decreasing barriers to care. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Patient navigation is an emerging trend in cancer care. Patient navigators can play a significant role in assisting patients with coordinating services across the continuum of care. Continued research is essential in refining the role and eminence of patient navigators.