Patient navigation for American Indians undergoing cancer treatment: utilization and impact on care delivery in a regional healthcare center

Tribal Perspectives on Patient Navigation for Rural Native Veterans Using Veteran Health Administration Services

American Indian and Alaska Native (Native) Veterans enrolled in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits program are far less likely to access health care compared to other racial/ethnic groups, in part driven by challenges posed by often distant, complex, and culturally unresponsive health care that does not easily interface with the Indian Health Service (IHS) and local Tribal Health Care. To address this disparity, in 2020 the Veteran's Health Administration's (VHA) Office of Rural Health (ORH) initiated the development of a patient navigation program designed specifically for rural Native Veterans. There are no navigation programs for rural Native Veterans to guide development of such a program. Hence, the project team sought perspectives from rural Native Veterans, their families, and community advocates, (n = 34), via video and phone interviews about the role and functions of a Veteran patient navigator and personal characteristics best be suited for such a position. Participants believed a navigator program would be useful in assisting rural Native Veterans to access VHA care. They emphasized the importance of empathy, support, knowledge of local culture, and of Veteran experience within tribal communities, adeptness with VHA systems, and personnel consistency. These insights are critical to create a program capable of increasing rural Native Veteran access to VHA services.

Providers' and survivors' perspectives on the availability and accessibility of surgery in gastrointestinal cancer care

BACKGROUND

Surgery is essential for gastrointestinal (GI) cancer treatment. Many patients lack access to surgical care that optimizes outcomes. Scarce availability and/or low accessibility of appropriate resources may be the reason for this, especially in economically disadvantaged areas. This study aimed to investigate providers' and survivors' perspectives on barriers and facilitators to the availability and accessibility of surgical care.

METHODS

Semistructured interviews informed by surgical disparities and access-to-care conceptual frameworks with purposively selected GI cancer providers and survivors in Alabama and Mississippi were conducted. Survivors were within 3 years of diagnosis of stage I to III esophageal, pancreatic, or colorectal cancer. Transcripts were analyzed using inductive thematic and content analysis techniques. Intercoder agreement was reached at 90 %.

RESULTS

The 27 providers included surgeons (n = 11), medical oncologists (n = 2), radiation oncologists (n = 2), a primary care physician (n = 1), nurses (n = 8), and patient navigators (n = 3). This study included 36 survivors with ages ranging from 44 to 87 years. Of the 36 survivors, 21 (58.3 %) were male, and 11 (30.6 %) identified as Black. Responses were grouped into 3 broad categories: (i) transportation/geographic location, (ii) specialized care/testing, and (iii) patient-/provider-related factors. The barriers included lack and cost of transportation, reluctance to travel because of uneasiness with urban centers, low availability of specialized care, overburdened referral centers, provider-related referral biases, and low health literacy. Facilitators included availability of charitable aid, centralizing multidisciplinary care, and efficient appointment scheduling.

CONCLUSION

In the Deep South, barriers and facilitators to the availability and accessibility of GI surgical cancer care were identified at the health system, provider, and patient levels, especially for rural residents. Our data suggest targets for improving the use of surgery in GI cancer care.

Systematic Review of Interventions Addressing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Cancer Care and Health Outcomes

PURPOSE

Cancer health disparities result from complex interactions among socioeconomic, behavioral, and biological factors, disproportionately affecting marginalized racial and ethnic groups. The objective of this review is to synthesize existing evidence on interventions addressing racial or ethnic disparities in cancer-related health care access and clinical outcomes.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection was conducted from database inception to February 23, 2023. Controlled vocabulary and keywords helped to identify studies on cancer-related disparities and interventions in adults age 18 years or older. Two reviewers followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis reporting guidelines. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool.

RESULTS

Of 7,526 screened studies, 34 met the inclusion criteria involving 24,134 participants. Most studies focused on breast cancer (n = 17) and Hispanic/Latino populations (n = 10) and enrolled participants primarily from community-based sites (n = 19). Twenty-one studies examined patient-centered outcomes, such as health-related quality of life and psychological well-being, while 15 studies assessed process-of-care outcomes, such as timeliness of care. Most studies followed a community-based participatory research framework. Five patient-centered outcome studies reported a positive intervention effect, often combining cancer education with psychological well-being interventions. Among the 15 process-of-care outcome studies, nine reported positive effects, with the majority (n = 8) being navigation-based interventions.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review emphasizes the vital role of community partnerships in addressing racial and ethnic disparities in oncology care and highlights the need for standardized approaches in intervention research because of the heterogeneity of studied interventions. Furthermore, the prevailing emphasis on breast cancer and Hispanic populations indicates the need for future investigations into other priority demographic groups.

Patient Navigation in Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Patient navigation promotes access to timely treatment of chronic diseases by eliminating barriers to care. Patient navigation programs have been well-established in improving screening rates and diagnostic resolution. This systematic review aimed to characterize the multifaceted role of patient navigators within the realm of cancer treatment.

RECENT FINDINGS

A comprehensive electronic literature review of PubMed and Embase databases was conducted to identify relevant studies investigating the role of patient navigators in cancer treatment from August 1, 2009 to March 27, 2023. Fifty-nine articles were included in this review. Amongst studies focused on cancer treatment initiation, 70% found a significant improvement in treatment initiation amongst patients who were enrolled in patient navigation programs, 71% of studies focused on treatment adherence demonstrated significant improvements in treatment adherence, 87% of studies investigating patient satisfaction showed significant benefits, and 81% of studies reported a positive impact of patient navigators on quality care indicators. Three palliative care studies found beneficial effects of patient navigation. Thirty-seven studies investigated disadvantaged populations, with 76% of them concluded that patient navigators made a positive impact during treatment. This systematic review provides compelling evidence supporting the value of patient navigation programs in cancer treatment. The findings suggest that patient navigation plays a crucial role in improving access to care and optimizing treatment outcomes, especially for disadvantaged cancer patients. Incorporating patient navigation into standard oncology practice can reduce disparities and improve the overall quality of cancer care.

The impact of individual-level income predicted from the BRFSS on the association between insurance status and overall survival among adults with cancer from the SEER program

INTRODUCTION

Among patients with cancer in the United States, Medicaid insurance is associated with worse outcomes than private insurance and with similar outcomes as being uninsured. However, prior studies have not addressed the impact of individual-level socioeconomic status, which determines Medicaid eligibility, on the associations of Medicaid status and cancer outcomes. Our objective was to determine whether differences in cancer outcomes by insurance status persist after accounting for individual-level income.

METHODS

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was queried for 18-64 year-old individuals with cancer from 2014-2016. Individual-level income was imputed using a model trained on Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance Survey participants including covariates also present in SEER. The association of 1-year overall survival and insurance status was estimated with and without adjustment for estimated individual-level income and other covariates.

RESULTS

A total of 416,784 cases in SEER were analyzed. The 1-yr OS for patients with private insurance, Medicaid insurance, and no insurance was 88.7%, 76.1%, and 73.7%, respectively. After adjusting for all covariates except individual-level income, 1-year OS differences were worse with Medicaid (-6.0%, 95% CI = -6.3 to -5.6) and no insurance (-6.7%, 95% CI = -7.3 to -6.0) versus private insurance. After also adjusting for estimated individual-level income, the survival difference for Medicaid patients was similar to privately insured (-0.4%, 95% CI = -1.9 to 1.1) and better than uninsured individuals (2.1%, 95% CI = 0.7 to 3.4).

CONCLUSIONS

Income, rather than Medicaid status, may drive poor cancer outcomes in the low-income and Medicaid-insured population. Medicaid insurance coverage may improve cancer outcomes for low-income individuals.

Addressing disparities in cancer clinical trials: a roadmap to more equitable accrual

The Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education (Georgia CORE) and the Georgia Society of Clinical Oncology (GASCO) held a one-day summit exploring opportunities and evidence-based interventions to address disparities in cancer clinical trials. The purpose of the summit was to identify clear and concise recommendations aimed at decreasing clinical trial accrual disparities in Georgia for rural and minority populations. The summit included expert presentations, panel discussions with leaders from provider organizations throughout Georgia, and breakout sessions to allow participants to critically discuss the information presented. Over 120 participants attended the summit. Recognizing the need for evidence-based interventions to improve clinical trial accrual among rural Georgians and persons of color, summit participants identified four key areas of focus that included: improving clinical trial design, providing navigation for all, enhancing public education and awareness of cancer clinical trials, and identifying potential policy and other opportunities. A comprehensive list of takeaways and action plans was developed in the four key areas of focus with the expectation that implementation of the strategies that emerged from the summit will enhance cancer clinical trial accrual for all Georgians.

Simulating the population impact of interventions to reduce racial gaps in breast cancer treatment

BACKGROUND

Inequities in guideline-concordant treatment receipt contribute to worse survival in Black breast cancer (BCa) patients. Inequity-reduction interventions (eg, navigation, bias training, tracking dashboards) can close such treatment gaps. We simulated the population-level impact of statewide implementation of inequity-reduction interventions on racial BCa inequities in North Carolina.

METHODS

Using registry-linked multi-payer claims data, we calculated Black/White inequities in endocrine (ET; n = 12,033) and chemotherapy (CTx; n = 1,819) receipt. We then built cohort- (ET and CTx), and race-stratified Markov models to simulate the potential increase in the proportion of patients receiving ET or CTx and subsequent improvements in BCa outcomes if inequity-reducing intervention were implemented statewide. We report uncertainty bounds representing 95% of simulation results.

RESULTS

75.6% and 72.1% of Black patients received ET and CTx over the 2006-2015 and 2004-2015 periods (vs 79.3 and 78.9% of White patients, respectively). Inequity-reduction interventions could increase ET and CTx receipt among Black patients to 89.9% (85.3, 94.6%) and 85.7% (80.7, 90.9%). Such interventions could also decrease 5-and 10-year BCa mortality gaps from 3.4 to 3.2 (3.0, 3.3) and from 6.7 to 6.1 (5.9, 6.4) percentage points in the ET cohorts and from 8.6 to 8.1 (7.7, 8.4) and from 8.2 to 7.8 (7.3, 8.1) percentage points in the CTx cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

Inequity-focused interventions could improve cancer outcomes for Black patients. However, they would not fully close the racial BCa mortality gap. Addressing other inequities along cancer continuum (eg, screening, pre-and post-diagnosis risk factors) is required to achieve full equity in BCa outcomes.

Sensitivity of US Preventive Services Task Force and PLCOm2012 lung cancer screening eligibility criteria in individuals with lung cancer in South Dakota self-reporting as Indigenous and non-Indigenous

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths. Screening individuals who are at elevated risk using low-dose computed tomography reduces lung cancer mortality by ≥20%. Individuals who have community-based factors that contribute to an increased risk of developing lung cancer have high lung cancer rates and are diagnosed at younger ages. In this study of lung cancer in South Dakota, the authors compared the sensitivity of screening eligibility criteria for self-reported Indigenous race and evaluated the need for screening at younger ages.

METHODS

US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) 2013 and 2021 (USPSTF2013 and USPSTF2021) criteria and two versions of the PLCOm2012 risk-prediction model (based on the 2012 Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian [PLCO] Cancer Screening Trial), one with a predictor for race and one without, were applied at USPSTF-equivalent thresholds of ≥1.7% in 6 years and ≥1.0% in 6 years to 1565 individuals who were sequentially diagnosed with lung cancer (of whom 12.7% self-reported as Indigenous) at the Monument Health Cancer Care Institute in South Dakota (2010-2019).

RESULTS

Eligibility sensitivities of USPSTF criteria did not differ significantly between individuals who self-reported their race as Indigenous and those who did not (p > .05). Sensitivities of both PLCOm2012 models were significantly higher than comparable USPSTF criteria. The sensitivity of USPSTF2021 criteria was 66.1% and, for comparable PLCOm2012 models with and without race, sensitivity was 90.7% and 89.6%, respectively (both p < .001); 1.4% of individuals were younger than 50 years, and proportions did not differ by Indigenous classification (p = .518).

CONCLUSIONS

Disparities in screening eligibility were not observed for individuals who self-reported their race as Indigenous. USPSTF criteria had lower sensitivities for lung cancer eligibility. Both PLCOm2012 models had high sensitivities, with higher sensitivity for the model that included race. The PLCOm2012noRace model selected effectively in this population, and screening individuals younger than 50 years did not appear to be justified.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths. Studies show that using low-dose computed tomography scans to screen people who smoke or who used to smoke and are at elevated risk for lung cancer reduces lung cancer deaths. This study of 1565 individuals with lung cancer in South Dakota compared screening eligibility using US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) criteria and a lung cancer risk-prediction model (PLCOm2012; from the 2012 Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian [PLCO] Cancer Screening Trial). The model had higher sensitivity and picked more people with lung cancer to screen compared with USPSTF criteria. Eligibility sensitivities were similar for individuals who self-reported as Indigenous versus those who did not between USPSTF criteria and the model.

The use of patient navigation to transition detoxification patients to substance use treatment in the Alaska Interior

Objectives

Detoxification clinics manage acute intoxication and withdrawal from alcohol and other drugs. At discharge, patients are referred to treatment, yet many are readmitted to detoxification, creating a "revolving door" of discharges and admissions. This pattern disproportionately affects some groups such as Alaska Native and American Indian (AN/AI) people. The primary goals of this study are to: 1) test the effectiveness of a patient navigation intervention to increase rates of transition to alcohol treatment following detoxification, and 2) prevent readmission to detoxification within 12-months. The secondary goal is a cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit evaluation of patient navigation.

Study design

This randomized controlled comparative effectiveness trial plans to recruit 440 patients (∼70% AN/AI) admitted to alcohol detoxification. We collaborated with Fairbanks Native Association (FNA) to select an appropriate intervention, control condition, and other study-related decisions. Here, we describe intervention development, study design, challenges encountered during implementation, and collaborative processes to identify solutions.

Methods

Participants are equally randomized to the control (one motivational interviewing session) or intervention (one motivational interviewing session plus up to four weeks of patient navigation). The primary outcomes are successful transition to alcohol treatment within 30-days after discharge and detoxification readmission within 12-months. The secondary outcome is health-related quality of life.

Conclusion

Patient navigation is successful in other settings and for other health conditions. It may assist in overcoming barriers to successful transition to substance use treatment and may augment interventions, such as motivational interviewing, that are less resource-intensive but may not be optimally effective by themselves.

ClinicalTrialsgov Identifier

NCT03737864.

Patient Navigation for Timely, Guideline-Adherent Adjuvant Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer: A National Landscape Analysis

BACKGROUND

Aligned with the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for Head and Neck Cancers, in November 2021 the Commission on Cancer approved initiation of postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) within 6 weeks of surgery for head and neck cancer (HNC) as its first and only HNC quality metric. Unfortunately, >50% of patients do not commence PORT within 6 weeks, and delays disproportionately burden racial and ethnic minority groups. Although patient navigation (PN) is a potential strategy to improve the delivery of timely, equitable, guideline-adherent PORT, the national landscape of PN for this aspect of care is unknown.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From September through November 2022, we conducted a survey of health care organizations that participate in the American Cancer Society National Navigation Roundtable to understand the scope of PN for delivering timely, guideline-adherent PORT for patients with HNC.

RESULTS

Of the 94 institutions that completed the survey, 89.4% (n=84) reported that at least part of their practice was dedicated to navigating patients with HNC. Sixty-eight percent of the institutions who reported navigating patients with HNC along the continuum (56/83) reported helping them begin PORT. One-third of HNC navigators (32.5%; 27/83) reported tracking the metric for time-to-PORT at their facility. When estimating the timeframe in which the NCCN and Commission on Cancer guidelines recommend commencing PORT, 44.0% (37/84) of HNC navigators correctly stated ≤6 weeks; 71.4% (60/84) reported that they did not know the frequency of delays starting PORT among patients with HNC nationally, and 63.1% (53/84) did not know the frequency of delays at their institution.

CONCLUSIONS

In this national landscape survey, we identified that PN is already widely used in clinical practice to help patients with HNC start timely, guideline-adherent PORT. To enhance and scale PN within this area and improve the quality and equity of HNC care delivery, organizations could focus on providing better education and support for their navigators as well as specialization in HNC.

Understanding the Role of Caseworker-Cultural Mediators in Addressing Healthcare Inequities for Patients with Limited-English Proficiency: a Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND

Patients with limited-English proficiency (LEP) face multiple barriers to equitable healthcare. Interventions that go beyond interpretation, such as the use of bicultural-bilingual patient navigators, hold promise for addressing multi-level barriers. However, data about how to operationalize the tasks that are key to such interventions across diverse LEP communities are lacking.

OBJECTIVE

Using our health system's bicultural-bilingual caseworker-cultural mediator (CCM) program serving Amharic-, Cambodian/Khmer-, Somali-, Spanish-, and Vietnamese-speaking patients, we sought to understand the key tasks that comprise the CCMs' role and how these tasks enable them to address barriers to healthcare for patients with LEP.

DESIGN

Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2019 with a purposive sample (n=23) of clinicians, CCMs, and patients with LEP or their family members from all language groups.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients or family members receiving CCM services, CCMs, and clinicians who referred patients to the program.

APPROACH

Content analysis consisting of a hybrid deductive-inductive qualitative approach.

KEY RESULTS

Seven CCM tasks were identified: advocacy, care coordination, navigation, interpretation, education, mediation, and emotional support. Additionally, four key impacts emerged that described the ways in which these tasks enabled the CCMs to facilitate equitable care: bridging the patient, family, community, clinical team, and healthcare system; impacting knowledge of cultural issues and of the healthcare system; troubleshooting cultural barriers and problem solving; and enhancing relationship building.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified several tasks and impacts that enabled CCMs to address multi-level barriers to care experienced by patients with LEP and their families across diverse cultural and linguistic groups. Findings suggest opportunities for the generalizability of programs such as ours for multiple LEP populations. Additionally, interventions having a greater scope than interpretation and including relationships with communities may be more successful in addressing barriers to equitable care at the individual, system, and community levels.

Interventions to increase racial and ethnic minority accrual into cancer clinical trials: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Racial and ethnic minorities (REMs) continue to be underrepresented in clinical trials despite the 1993 National Institutes of Health's Revitalization Act mandating the representation of women and underrepresented minority groups in clinical trials. Although Blacks represent 15% and Hispanics 13% of the cancer population, their clinical trial enrollment rates are disproportionately low at 4% to 6% and 3% to 6%, respectively. A systematic review exploring interventions aimed at improving cancer clinical trial (CCT) enrollment for REMs was conducted.

METHODS

A systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Ovid PsycINFO was conducted for English-language studies since 1993. Inclusion criteria included peer-reviewed, US-based studies with interventions aimed to recruit underrepresented minority adult patients into cancer clinical trials. REM groups were defined as Black, Hispanic, Asian, American Indian, and Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander.

RESULTS

The systematic search identified 3123 studies, of which nine met inclusion criteria. Interventions included patient navigation/coaching (n = 4), a clinical trial educational video (n = 2), institutional research infrastructure changes (n = 1), a relationship building and social marketing recruitment model (n = 1), and cultural competency training for providers (n = 1). A statistically significant improvement in accrual was shown in three of the patient navigation interventions, one of the clinical trial educational videos and an institutional research infrastructure change.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review illustrates several potential mechanisms by which to increase CCT recruitment for patients of REM backgrounds in various clinical settings. More randomized controlled trials are needed to further explore the benefits of these interventions for REMs.

Health Disparities in Cancer Among American Indians and Alaska Natives

American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) are underserved populations who suffer from several health disparities, 1 of which is cancer. Malignancies, especially cancers of the breast, liver, and lung, are common causes of death in this population. Health care disparities in this population include more limited access to diagnostic radiology because of geographic and/or health system limitations. Early detection of these cancers may be enabled by improving patient and physician access to medical imaging. Awareness by the radiology community of the cancer disparities among this population is needed to support research targeted to this specific ethnic group and to support outreach efforts to provide more imaging opportunities. Providing greater access to imaging facilities will also improve patient compliance with screening recommendations, ultimately improving mortality in these populations.

Provider Communication: The Key to Care Coordination Between Tribal Primary Care and Community Oncology Providers

PURPOSE

To explore tribal primary care providers' and community oncology providers' experiences of caring for individuals with cancer to inform intervention development and improve cancer care coordination in this high-need population.

PARTICIPANTS & SETTING

33 tribal primary care providers and 22 nontribal, community-based oncology providers.

METHODOLOGIC APPROACH

A qualitative, descriptive design was used, and 55 semistructured individual interviews were completed. Data were analyzed using conventional inductive content analysis to identify major themes.

FINDINGS

Effective care coordination for individuals with cancer was characterized by timely communication. Providers in both settings identified unhindered communication between providers as a key element of care coordination. Identification of points of contact in each setting enhanced information exchange. As patient needs related to cancer care intensified, care coordination increased in complexity.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING

Evaluating strategies to enhance communication between tribal primary care providers and community oncology providers is an important next step in enhancing the coordination of care for tribal individuals with cancer.

NACP: Partnership for Native American Cancer Prevention

Cancer trends over a two-decade period show a greater reduction in cancer mortality rates for non-Hispanic Whites than for Native Americans. The Partnership for Native American Cancer Prevention (NACP) was established to address cancer health disparities that impact Native Americans. The partners are Northern Arizona University, the University of Arizona Cancer Center, Arizona's tribal communities and the National Cancer Institute. The activities include outreach, research and cancer education. Overall, NACP seeks to expand capacity for culturally-sensitive and community-relevant research on cancer, and to continue developing respectful collaborations that will empower sovereign Native American communities to define, implement, and achieve their goals for cancer health equity.

Interventions to improve cancer survivorship among Indigenous Peoples and communities: a systematic review with a narrative synthesis

PURPOSE

The purpose of this systematic review is to synthesize the evidence on the types of interventions that have been utilized by Indigenous Peoples living with cancer, and report on their relevance to Indigenous communities and how they align with holistic wellness.

METHODS

A systematic review with narrative synthesis was conducted.

RESULTS

The search yielded 7995 unique records; 27 studies evaluating 20 interventions were included. The majority of studies were conducted in USA, with five in Australia and one in Peru. Study designs were cross-sectional (n=13); qualitative (n=5); mixed methods (n=4); experimental (n=3); and quasi-experimental (n=2). Relevance to participating Indigenous communities was rated moderate to low. Interventions were diverse in aims, ingredients, and outcomes. Aims involved (1) supporting the healthcare journey, (2) increasing knowledge, (3) providing psychosocial support, and (4) promoting dialogue about cancer. The main ingredients of the interventions were community meetings, patient navigation, arts, and printed/online/audio materials. Participants were predominately female. Eighty-nine percent of studies showed positive influences on the outcomes evaluated. No studies addressed all four dimensions of holistic wellness (physical, mental, social, and spiritual) that are central to Indigenous health in many communities.

CONCLUSION

Studies we found represented a small number of Indigenous Nations and Peoples and did not meet relevance standards in their reporting of engagement with Indigenous communities. To improve the cancer survivorship journey, we need interventions that are relevant, culturally safe and effective, and honoring the diverse conceptualizations of health and wellness among Indigenous Peoples around the world.

Is nurse-led case management effective in improving treatment outcomes for cancer patients? A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

To identify and synthesize the outcomes of nurse-led case management interventions for improving cancer treatment.

DESIGN

Systematic review with meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and CEPS were searched for articles published from inception till June 2019, and search was finalized in January 2020.

REVIEW METHODS

The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement guidelines. The quality of evidence was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools. Outcomes were analysed by using a pool of data of 95% confidence intervals (CIs), p value and fitting model based on heterogeneity of test results.

RESULTS

Eleven articles were included in the meta-analysis. When compared with the regular care group, the nurse-led case management group had: 1) shorter time from diagnosis to treatment by 9.07 days, 2) an improved treatment completion rates (OR = 2.45) and 3) more number of patients received hormone therapy.

CONCLUSION

The synthesized results presented that nurse-led case management is more effective than regular care in improving treatment timeliness, treatment completion rates and hormone therapy rates.

Improving the Clinical Treatment of Vulnerable Populations in Radiation Oncology

The increasing role of radiation oncology in optimal cancer care treatment brings to mind the adage that power is never a gift, but a responsibility. A significant part of the responsibility we in radiation oncology bear is how to ensure optimal access to our services. This article summarizes the discussion initiated at the 2019 American Society for Radiation Oncology Annual Meeting educational panel entitled “Improving the Clinical Treatment of Vulnerable Populations in Radiation Oncology: Latin, African American, Native American, and Gender/Sexual Minority Communities.” By bringing the discussion to the printed page, we hope to continue the conversation with a broader audience to better define the level of responsibility our field bears in optimizing cancer care to the most vulnerable patient populations within the United States.

Overcoming Barriers: Evidence-Based Strategies to Increase Enrollment of Underrepresented Populations in Cancer Therapeutic Clinical Trials-a Narrative Review

Disparities in cancer incidence and mortality rates among racial and ethnic minorities (African Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, American Indians, and Latinos/Hispanic Americans) in the USA are well documented. Enrollment of underrepresented populations in cancer therapeutic clinical trials, however, is very low. This is true despite federal mandates to ensure accrual rates adequate for analyses and the evidence that the effectiveness of specific therapies and medications varies across ethnic and racial groups. Consequently, cancer clinical decision-making is based on research studies where the majority of research participants are white males, despite the disproportionate cancer burden in racial and ethnic minority groups. To date, there have been multiple reviews detailing the barriers to enrollment for these populations in cancer clinical trials, but a notable lack of research on possible strategies to overcome them. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the current evidence for effective approaches to increase enrollment of underrepresented minorities in cancer therapeutic clinical trials. These approaches include (1) cultural and linguistic adaptations of marketing materials, (2) the use of patient navigators, and (3) building ongoing community partnerships. The majority of studies reviewed employ multiple improvement strategies simultaneously. Identifying effective approaches to increase enrollment of underrepresented populations in cancer clinical trials is a critical step in reducing persistent disparities in cancer incidence and mortality among racial and ethnic populations.

Healthcare delivery interventions to reduce cancer disparities worldwide

Globally, cancer care delivery is marked by inequalities, where some economic, demographic, and sociocultural groups have worse outcomes than others. In this review, we sought to identify patient-facing interventions designed to reduce disparities in cancer care in both high- and low-income countries. We found two broad categories of interventions that have been studied in the current literature: Patient navigation and telehealth. Navigation has the strongest evidence base for reducing disparities, primarily in cancer screening. Improved outcomes with navigation interventions have been seen in both high- and low-income countries. Telehealth interventions remain an active area of exploration, primarily in high income countries, with the best evidence being for the remote delivery of palliative care. Ongoing research is needed to identify the most efficacious, cost-effective, and scalable interventions to reduce barriers to the receipt of cancer care globally.

Understanding American Indian Perceptions Toward Radiation Therapy

Many American Indian (AI) and Alaska native (AN) patients do not complete guideline-concordant cancer care for the 4 most common cancers. Our aim was to better understand AI/AN attitudes toward radiation therapy (RT). Patients eligible for this survey study were AI/AN patients with cancer at the Phoenix Indian Medical Center who either received previous RT or were recommended to receive RT. An 18-item questionnaire was administered to each of the 50 participants from October 1, 2018, through February 15, 2019. Willingness to travel for RT was compared to respondent characteristics, concerns regarding RT, and obstacles to obtain RT. Duration of RT was important to 78% of patients: 24% would consider traveling 25 miles or more for a standard course, and 48% would travel that distance for a shorter course (P < .001). The top-ranked barriers to RT were transportation, cost of treatment, and insurance compatibility. The top-ranked concerns about RT were adverse effects, cost of treatment, and fear of RT. Concerns about adverse effects were associated with the radiation team's inability to explain the treatment (P = .05). Transportation concerns were significantly associated with accessibility (P = .02), communication with the RT team (P = .02), and fear of RT (P = .04). AI/AN patients are concerned about the adverse effects of RT and the logistics of treatment, particularly costs, transportation, and insurance compatibility. Use of culturally specific education and hypofractionation regimens may increase acceptance of RT for AI/AN patients with cancer, and this hypothesis will be tested in a future educational intervention-based study.

Communication, Collaboration and Care Coordination: The Three-Point Guide to Cancer Care Provision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians

Aim:

To explore health professionals’ perspectives on communication, continuity and between-service coordination for improving cancer care for Indigenous people in Queensland.

Methods:

Semi-structured interviews were conducted in a purposive sample of primary health care (PHC) services in Queensland with Indigenous and non-Indigenous health professionals who had experience caring for Indigenous cancer patients in the PHC and hospital setting. The World Health Organisation integrated people-centred health services framework was used to analyse the interview data.

Results:

Seventeen health staff from six Aboriginal Community Controlled Services and nine health professionals from one tertiary hospital participated in this study. PHC sites were in urban, regional and rural settings and the hospital was in a major city. Analysis of the data suggests that timely communication and information exchange, collaborative approaches, streamlined processes, flexible care delivery, and patient-centred care and support were crucial in improving the continuity and coordination of care between the PHC service and the treating hospital.

Conclusion:

Communication, collaboration and care coordination are integral in the provision of quality cancer care for Indigenous Australians. It is recommended that health policy and funding be designed to incorporate these aspects across services and settings as a strategy to improve cancer outcomes for Indigenous people in Queensland.

Patient barriers to cancer clinical trial participation and navigator activities to assist

Clinical research is vital to the discovery of new cancer treatments that can enhance health and prolong life for cancer patients, but breakthroughs in cancer treatment are limited by challenges recruiting patients into cancer clinical trials (CT). Only 3-5% of cancer patients in the United States participate in a cancer CT and there are disparities in CT participation by age, race and gender. Strategies such as patient navigation, which is designed to provide patients with education and practical support, may help to overcome challenges of CT recruitment. The current study evaluated an intervention in which lay navigators were utilized to provide patient education and practical support for helping patients overcome barriers to CT participation and related clinical care. A patient barrier checklist was utilized to record patient barriers to CT participation and care, actions taken by navigators to assist patients with these barriers, and whether or not these barriers could be overcome. Forty patients received patient navigation services. The most common barriers faced by navigated patients were fear (n=9), issues communicating with medical personnel (n=9), insurance issues (n=8), transportation difficulties (n=6) and perceptions about providers and treatment (n=4). The most common activities undertaken by navigators were making referrals and contacts on behalf of patients (e.g., support services, family, clinicians; n=25). Navigators also made arrangement for transportation, financial, medication and equipment services for patients (n=11) and proactively navigated patients (n=8). Barriers that were not overcome for two or more patients included insurance issues, lack of temporary housing resources for patients in treatment and assistance with household bills. The wide array of patient barriers to CT participation and navigator assistance documented in this study supports the CT navigator role in facilitating quality care.

Establishing effective patient navigation programs in oncology

PURPOSE

Recent advances in cancer treatment have resulted in greatly improved survival, and yet many patients in the USA have not benefited due to poor access to healthcare and difficulty accessing timely care across the cancer care continuum. Recognizing these issues and the need to facilitate discussions on how to improve navigation services for patients with cancer, the National Cancer Policy Forum of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) held a workshop entitled, "Establishing Effective Patient Navigation Programs in Oncology. The purpose of this manuscript is to disseminate the conclusions of this workshop while providing a clinically relevant review of patient navigation in oncology.

DESIGN

Narrative literature review and summary of workshop discussions RESULTS: Patient navigation has been shown to be effective at improving outcomes throughout the spectrum of cancer care. Work remains to develop consensus on scope of practice and evaluation criteria and to align payment incentives and policy.

CONCLUSION

Patient navigation plays an essential role in overcoming patient- and system-level barriers to improve access to cancer care and outcomes for those most in need.

The efficacy and cost-effectiveness of patient navigation programs across the cancer continuum: A systematic review

Published studies regarding patient navigation (PN) and cancer were reviewed to assess quality, determine gaps, and identify avenues for future research. The PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for studies investigating the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of PN across the cancer continuum. Each included article was scored independently by 2 separate reviewers with the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. The current review identified 113 published articles that assessed PN and cancer care, between August 1, 2010, and February 1, 2018, 14 of which reported on the cost-effectiveness of PN programs. Most publications focused on the effectiveness of PN in screening (50%) and diagnosis (27%) along the continuum of cancer care. Many described the effectiveness of PN for breast cancer (52%) or colorectal cancer outcomes (51%). Most studies reported favorable outcomes for PN programs, including increased uptake of and adherence to cancer screenings, timely diagnostic resolution and follow-up, higher completion rates for cancer therapy, and higher rates of attending medical appointments. Cost-effectiveness studies showed that PN programs yielded financial benefits. Quality assessment showed that 75 of the 113 included articles (65%) had 2 or more weak components. In conclusion, this review indicates numerous gaps within the PN and cancer literature where improvement is needed. For example, more research is needed at other points along the continuum of cancer care outside of screening and diagnosis. In addition, future research into the effectiveness of PN for understudied cancers outside of breast and colorectal cancer is necessary along with an assessment of cost-effectiveness and more rigorous reporting of study designs and results in published articles.

Brachytherapy: A critical component of primary radiation therapy for cervical cancer: From the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) and the American Brachytherapy Society (ABS)

Brachytherapy is well-established as an integral component in the standard of care for treatment of patients receiving primary radiotherapy for cervical cancer. A decline in brachytherapy has been associated with negative impacts on survival in the era of modern EBRT techniques. Conformal external beam therapies such intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) or stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) should not be used as alternatives to brachytherapy in patients undergoing primary curative-intent radiation therapy for cervical cancer. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance image-guided adaptive brachytherapy is evolving as the preferred brachytherapy method. With careful care coordination EBRT and brachytherapy can be successfully delivered at different treatment centers without compromising treatment time and outcome in areas where access to brachytherapy maybe limited.

Health service provider responses to indigenous peoples with cancer: An integrative review

Indigenous populations around the world have a higher burden of cancer incidence, severity and mortality. This integrative review aims to identify and appraise the evidence of health providers' responses to the issue of indigenous peoples with cancer. A surprisingly small number of studies were found (n = 9) that reported on programmes and interventions for indigenous people with cancer, the majority of which were from the USA. Our review shows that a service delivery approach that is focused on the indigenous population and includes culturally appropriate activities, resources and environments resulted in an increase in cancer knowledge, reduction in treatment interruption, improved access to cancer care and enrolment in clinical cancer trials, and increased satisfaction with health care. However, the question of why there are so few published studies needs further consideration.

Prostate cancer navigation: initial experience and association with time to care

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate factors associated with use of patient navigation in a prostate cancer population and identify whether navigation is associated with prolonged time to care. Cancer patient navigation has been shown to improve access to cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment, but little is known about patient navigation in prostate cancer care.

METHODS

All men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer between 2009 and 2015 were abstracted from the MaineHealth multi-specialty tumor registry. Regression analyses controlling for patient-, disease-, and system-level factors evaluated characteristics associated with navigation utilization. The association between navigation utilization, barriers to care, and longer time to treatment was assessed with Cox proportional hazards regression.

RESULTS

Of the patient population (n = 1587), 85% of men were navigated. Navigation use was associated with earlier year of diagnosis, treatment by a high-volume urologist, and lower risk disease (p < 0.05). Treatment delay was associated with low-risk disease (vs: intermediate OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.46-0.85 and high OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.1-0.25) and receipt of navigation services (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.12-2.45) but not distance to care, insurance, or treatment choice.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed that patients with low-risk prostate cancer were more likely to utilize navigation, but traditional barriers to care were not associated with utilization. Navigation was associated with longer time to treatment, which likely reflects clinically appropriate delays associated with greater shared decision making. Time to treatment may not be the ideal metric for evaluating navigation in prostate cancer; shared decision making, patient satisfaction, and psychosocial outcomes may be more appropriate.

In their own words: patient navigator roles in culturally sensitive cancer care

Purpose

Patient navigation has emerged as a promising strategy in reducing disparities among diverse cancer patients. However, little is known about navigators’ own perspectives on their roles in providing culturally competent care. The purpose of the present study is to describe these self-identified roles.

Methods

Data were collected from an online survey with a convenience sample of cancer patient navigators. Using NVivo 10, qualitative content analysis was conducted on free text responses to the question: “In your opinion, what is the role of a patient navigator or nurse navigator in the provision of culturally sensitive care to patients?” Frequencies of each navigator-identified role mentioned were tabulated.

Results

Of 294 respondents, 50.7% (n = 149) provided a response to the question of interest. Respondents described the following 11 interrelated navigator roles in the provision of culturally competent care: (1) assess and understand patient needs, (2) tailor care to patient, (3) build rapport/open communication, (4) facilitate communication between patient and health care team, (5) educate/provide resources to the patient, (6) advocate, (7) self-motivated learning, (8) address barriers to care, (9) involve/meet the needs of family or support people, (10) educate/support health care team, and (11) support patient empowerment in care.

Conclusions

Patient navigators are uniquely well-positioned to improve cultural competence of cancer care given their role as liaison to patients and providers. Cancer care settings should use navigators with direct knowledge of patient culture whenever possible; however, communication and cultural competence training is highly recommended for all navigators given the diversity of patient needs.

A Pilot Study to Determine the Effect of an Educational DVD in Philippine Languages on Cancer Clinical Trial Participation among Filipinos in Hawai'i

We conducted an experimental pilot study in an oncology clinic in Honolulu, Hawai'i to determine the effect of a culturally-tailored educational DVD on cancer clinical trial participation among Filipino cancer patients. Thirty-seven patients participated in the study, with 17 randomized into the control group (ie, usual education) and 20 into the intervention group (ie, usual education plus educational DVD). Participants completed pre- and post-educational questionnaires with items asking about understanding of several cancer topics, behavioral outcomes, and attitudes regarding several treatment and physician related topics. A Fisher's exact test was conducted to explore the association between enrollment into a clinical trial and group assignment. General linear models were created to determine significant differences between study groups in post-education response scores for each questionnaire item after controlling for age, gender, education, and pre-education response scores. Two participants from the control group and three participants from the intervention group enrolled into clinical trials. Results showed no significant association between clinical trial enrollment and study group assignment (P > .99). A significant difference was found between study groups on surety of joining the clinical trial suggested to them (P = .013). A multilingual educational DVD to supplement clinical trial education may positively influence Filipino cancer patients to move forward with the decision to join a cancer clinical trial. However, health literacy may serve as a major barrier to actual enrollment into the particular clinical trial available to a patient.

Cancer Care Access and Outcomes for American Indian Populations in the United States: Challenges and Models for Progress

Low socioeconomic and health care access realities of being American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) in the United States combined with decades of data documenting poor cancer outcomes for this population provide a population nested within the United States that is analogous to the cancer care landscape of low- and middle-income countries internationally. We reviewed the medical literature with respect to cancer prevention, access to cancer treatment, and access to effective supportive and palliative care for AI/AN populations in the United States. Research confirms poorer cancer outcomes, suboptimal cancer screening, and high-risk cancer behaviors among AI/AN communities. AI/AN cancer patients are less likely to undergo recommended cancer surgeries, adjuvant chemotherapy, and radiation therapy than their White counterparts. Studies including both rural and urban survivors with AI cancer revealed barriers to receipt of optimal cancer symptom management and proportionally lower hospice use among AI/AN populations. Culturally tailored programs in targeted communities have been shown to mitigate the observed cancer-related health disparities among AI/AN communities. There is still much work to be done to improve cancer-related health outcomes in AI/AN communities, and the goals of the providers serving them corresponds with those propelling the growing interest in global oncology equity. Policy work and more funding are needed to continue to build upon the work that the Indian Health Service and established cancer-related health programs have begun in AI/AN communities.

Patient participation in cancer clinical trials: A pilot test of lay navigation

BACKGROUND

Clinical trials (CT) represent an important treatment option for cancer patients. Unfortunately, patients face challenges to enrolling in CTs, such as logistical barriers, poor CT understanding and complex clinical regimens. Patient navigation is a strategy that may help to improve the delivery of CT education and support services. We examined the feasibility and initial effect of one navigation strategy, use of lay navigators.

METHODS

A lay CT navigation intervention was evaluated in a prospective cohort study among 40 lung and esophageal cancer patients. The intervention was delivered by a trained lay navigator who viewed a 17-minute CT educational video with each patient, assessed and answered their questions about CT participation and addressed reported barriers to care and trial participation.

RESULTS

During this 12-month pilot project, 85% (95% CI: 72%-93%) of patients eligible for a therapeutic CT consented to participate in the CT navigation intervention. Among navigated patients, CT understanding improved between pre- and post-test (means 3.54 and 4.40, respectively; p-value 0.004), and 95% (95% CI: 82%-98%) of navigated patients consented to participate in a CT. Navigated patients reported being satisfied with patient navigation services and CT participation.

CONCLUSIONS

In this formative single-arm pilot project, initial evidence was found for the potential effect of a lay navigation intervention on CT understanding and enrollment. A randomized controlled trial is needed to examine the efficacy of the intervention for improving CT education and enrollment.

Satisfaction with cancer care among American Indian and Alaska Natives in Oregon and Washington State: a qualitative study of survivor and caregiver perspectives

PURPOSE

To better understand satisfaction with care among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) persons with cancer, we explored dimensions of the provider relationship that contributed to satisfaction among caregivers and survivors who received cancer treatment in Oregon and Washington State.

METHODS

Between November 2011 and April 2013, the project team interviewed 11 caregivers and 71 AI/AN cancer survivors residing in Oregon and Washington State. Interview questions aimed to elicit participant experiences with care providers and factors associated with cancer care satisfaction. Interviews were analyzed using an inductive content analysis approach in which concepts were identified and themes derived from interview data.

RESULTS

Three overarching themes, each with two sub-themes, emerged from the data: (1) universal factors: bolstering understanding, involvement, and empathy in care; (2) minority-specific factors: incorporating culture and community into care; and (3) AI/AN-unique factors: interacting with Indian health clinics and Indian Health Service (IHS).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of our study suggest that satisfaction with care among survivors and their caregivers must be examined within the context of culture and community, particularly among minority patients. Our study demonstrates providers' critical role in ensuring AI/AN patients emerge satisfied with cancer treatment by honoring their AI/AN-specific needs, such as respect for integration of traditional healing modalities and navigation of specialty care coordination.

The Experience of Cancer in American Indians Living in Oklahoma

Many cancers in American Indians (AIs) are not diagnosed early leading to effects on physical, social, and emotional well-being or quality of life (QOL). Little research has been done on QOL of AIs in Oklahoma. This study examined the experience of living with cancer of AIs in Oklahoma to gain greater understanding of QOL issues and provide a basis for interventions to improve QOL. Twenty AIs diagnosed with cancer and receiving care in Oklahoma participated in this pilot study through semistructured interviews. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Themes identified included circles of support, finding meaning in the experience, and facing personal challenges such as health care-related issues, including mental health needs and fragmented care. The findings from this pilot study provide insights into the cancer experience of AIs in Oklahoma and demonstrate that care navigation and social support are important aspects to address in intervention development.

Training in Patient Navigation: A Review of the Research Literature

Despite the proliferation of patient navigation programs designed to increase timely receipt of health care, little is known about the content and delivery of patient navigation training, or best practices in this arena. The current study begins to address these gaps in understanding, as it is the first study to comprehensively review descriptions of patient navigation training in the peer-reviewed research literature. Seventy-five patient navigation efficacy studies published since 1995, identified through PubMed and by the authors, were included in this narrative review. Fifty-nine of the included studies (79%) mentioned patient navigation training, and 55 of these studies additionally provided a description of training. Most studies did not thoroughly document patient navigation training practices. Additionally, several topics integral to the role of patient navigators, as well as components of training central to successful adult learning, were not commonly described in the research literature. Descriptions of training also varied widely across studies in terms of duration, location, format, learning strategies employed, occupation of trainer, and content. These findings demonstrate the need for established standards of navigator training as well as for future research on the optimal delivery and content of patient navigation training.

Caregiving among American Indians and Alaska Natives with cancer

PURPOSE

Caregivers are an important source of support for oncology patients during cancer diagnosis and treatment, often helping patients manage barriers to care. Our study had three goals: to describe the characteristics of caregivers for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) oncology patients, to assess the similarities and differences between the perceptions of caregivers and patients regarding barriers to cancer care, and to compare AI/AN caregivers to non-AI/AN caregivers on perceived barriers to cancer care.

METHODS

We conducted a structured interview that assessed perceived barriers to cancer care with a paired sample of 98 adult caregivers and 98 AI/AN oncology patients and to assess the degree of agreement between these two groups. We also investigated whether AI/AN and non-AI/AN caregivers had differing perceptions of barriers to cancer care.

RESULTS

Caregivers reported that their role was very meaningful and not highly stressful. Caregivers and patients agreed 70 % of the time on specific barriers to cancer care. Both groups overwhelmingly reported financial and family or work issues as major barriers to care, whereas trust in providers was the least frequently endorsed barrier. A comparison of AI/AN and non-AI/AN caregivers revealed that AI/AN caregivers identified confidentiality among clinical staff as a significant barrier, whereas non-AI/AN caregivers perceived financial barriers as more significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Finances, family, and work are perceived as the largest barriers to the receipt of cancer care for AI/AN oncology patients. Both patients and caregivers trusted health-care providers. Assessing barriers to care early in the assessment process may result in better engagement with cancer treatment by patients and their caregivers.

State-of-the-science of patient navigation as a strategy for enhancing minority clinical trial accrual

BACKGROUND

Patient navigation programs are emerging that aim to address disparities in clinical trial participation among medically underserved populations, including racial/ethnic minorities. However, there is a lack of consensus on the role of patient navigators within the clinical trial process as well as outcome measures to evaluate program effectiveness.

METHODS

A review of the literature was conducted of PubMed, Medline, CINHAL, and other sources to identify qualitative and quantitative studies on patient navigation in clinical trials. The search yielded 212 studies, of which only 12 were eligible for this review.

RESULTS

The eligible studies reported on the development of programs for patient navigation in cancer clinical trials, including training and implementation among African Americans, American Indians, and Native Hawaiians. A low rate of clinical trial refusal (range, 4%-6%) was reported among patients enrolled in patient navigation programs. However, few studies reported on the efficacy of patient navigation in increasing clinical treatment trial enrollment.

CONCLUSIONS

Outcome measures are proposed to assist in developing and evaluating the efficacy and/or effectiveness of patient navigation programs that aim to increase participation in cancer clinical trials. Future research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of patient navigators in addressing barriers to clinical trial participation and increasing enrollment among medically underserved cancer patients.

What do cancer patients worry about when making decisions about treatment? Variation across racial/ethnic groups

The aim of this study was to determine the issues patients worry about when making decisions about cancer treatment. A total of 5,044 colorectal and lung cancer patients from the Cancer Care Outcomes Research and Surveillance Consortium reported their level of worry about (1) treatment side effects, (2) treatment costs, (3) time away from family, (4) time away from work, and (5) transportation to treatment sites. Using multivariable logistic regression, we evaluated the association of sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables with worry. Overall, 75 % of patients worried about side effects of treatments; 40 %, the cost of treatment; 50 %, time away from family; 52 %, time away from work; and 22 %, about transportation. In multivariable analyses, across all worry domains, older patients had lower odds of reporting worry (p values < 0.001). Patients who perceived less than excellent quality of care, self-assessed their health as less than excellent, and those with a higher cancer stage were more likely to report worry. Asian patients were more likely to report worry than Whites about the cost of treatment and transportation, and relative to Whites, Hispanics were more likely to report worry about transportation (p values < 0.05). Black patients were less likely to report worry about time away from work. Patients worry about issues beyond treatment side effects when making treatment decisions. The pattern of worry varies along sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors, including race and ethnicity. Understanding the source of patient worry and identifying interventions to alleviate worry are important to delivering patient-centered cancer care.

The National Cancer Institute-American Society of Clinical Oncology Cancer Trial Accrual Symposium: summary and recommendations

INTRODUCTION

Many challenges to clinical trial accrual exist, resulting in studies with inadequate enrollment and potentially delaying answers to important scientific and clinical questions.

METHODS

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) cosponsored the Cancer Trial Accrual Symposium: Science and Solutions on April 29-30, 2010 to examine the state of accrual science related to patient/community, physician/provider, and site/organizational influences, and identify new interventions to facilitate clinical trial enrollment. The symposium featured breakout sessions, plenary sessions, and a poster session including 100 abstracts. Among the 358 attendees were clinical investigators, researchers of accrual strategies, research administrators, nurses, research coordinators, patient advocates, and educators. A bibliography of the accrual literature in these three major areas was provided to participants in advance of the meeting. After the symposium, the literature in these areas was revisited to determine if the symposium recommendations remained relevant within the context of the current literature.

RESULTS

Few rigorously conducted studies have tested interventions to address challenges to clinical trials accrual. Attendees developed recommendations for improving accrual and identified priority areas for future accrual research at the patient/community, physician/provider, and site/organizational levels. Current literature continues to support the symposium recommendations.

CONCLUSIONS

A combination of approaches addressing both the multifactorial nature of accrual challenges and the characteristics of the target population may be needed to improve accrual to cancer clinical trials. Recommendations for best practices and for future research developed from the symposium are provided.

Patterns of clinical response to PSA elevation in American Indian/Alaska Native men: a multi-center pilot study

OBJECTIVE

To assess clinical treatment patterns and response times among American Indian/Alaska Native men with a newly elevated PSA.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified men ages 50-80 receiving care in one of three tribally-operated clinics in Northern Minnesota, one medical center in Alaska, and who had an incident PSA elevation (> 4 ng/ml) in a specified time period. A clinical response was considered timely if it was documented as occurring within 90 days of the incident PSA elevation.

RESULTS

Among 82 AI/AN men identified from medical records with an incident PSA elevation, 49 (60%) received a timely clinical response, while 18 (22%) had no documented clinical response.

CONCLUSIONS

One in five AI/AN men in our study had no documented clinical action following an incident PSA elevation. Although a pilot study, these findings suggest the need to improve the documentation, notification, and care following an elevated PSA at clinics serving AI/AN men.

Identifying health literacy and health system navigation needs among rural cancer patients: findings from the Rural Oncology Literacy Enhancement Study (ROLES)

Rural residence is associated with disparities in cancer-related outcomes. Guided by the Chronic Care Model (CCM), the Rural Oncology Literacy Enhancement Study (ROLES) assessed health literacy and patient navigation needs among rural cancer patients. A mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) approach was used, including: in-depth interviews, health literacy assessments, and phone surveys with cancer patients (N = 53) from 5 oncology clinics in rural Wisconsin; focus groups and self-administered surveys with staff (N = 41) in these clinics. Within four dimensions of the CCM (community resources, self-management support, delivery system design, and decision support), this study uncovered multiple unmet navigation needs, health literacy limitations, and barriers to quality cancer care. System-level implementation of patient navigation and health literacy best practices could contribute to improved cancer care and patient outcomes among rural populations. Further research identifying effective interventions that reduce cancer disparities among rural cancer patients is necessary.

Helping cancer patients across the care continuum: the navigation program at the Queen's Medical Center

Research suggests that cancer patient navigation improves care, but few reports describe the variety of patients managed by a hospital-based navigation program. Differences in navigated patients by the intensity (low, medium, or high) of navigation services they received were examined. The 835 clients seen by the navigators in a hospital-based cancer center were first stratified by quarter and by four ethnic groups. Randomized selection from each group assured there would be equal representation for analysis of Hawaiians, Filipinos, Japanese, and Whites and even numbers over all time intervals. Five professionals extracted data from these case records on demographics, type/stage of cancer, diagnosis and treatment dates, barriers, and navigator actions. Clients had breast (30.0%), lung (15.8%), esophageal (6.7%), colon (5.8%), ovarian (4.2%), prostate (3.3%), and other cancers (34.2%). The median number of actions taken on behalf of a client was 4 (range 1-83), and the median number of days a case was open was 14 (range 1-216). High intensity cases (those receiving more assistance over longer periods of time) were more likely than low-intensity cases to need help with education and reassurance, transportation, care coordination, and covering costs. Although there were no demographic differences across intensity groups, Neighbor Island patients from Hawai'i, Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i and Kaua'i were more likely to need help with arranging travel, care coordination, and costs associated with getting treatment (all at P=.05), and patients on public insurance were more likely to have stage 4 cancer (P=.001) and to need help with costs (P=.006). Findings suggest that this hospital-based navigation program is filling a real need of patients across the cancer care continuum. A triage protocol and an integrated data capture system could help improve the targeting and documentation of cancer patient navigation services.