A National Patient Navigator Training Program

Abstract

Patient Navigation is an intervention aimed at addressing cancer health disparities by eliminating barriers to diagnosis, treatment, and services. Three major patient navigation (PN) programs (The National Cancer Institute, The American Cancer Society &The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services) are underway to address the needs of medically underserved cancer patients. There has not been national training with a defined curriculum for patient navigators (PNs). Curriculum for training the PNs was created by experts from the three programs. The efficacy of training was evaluated using a pre- and posttest. The data show that overall the posttest scores improved from the pretest. In addition, having a high school education or greater or having more years of work experience were significantly related to improvements on the posttest. The first successful standardized national training program was attended by 116 PNs representing 85 cities with the goal to reduce health disparities for medically underserved.

Multiple Barriers Delay Care Among Women with Abnormal Cancer Screening Despite Patient Navigation

“…To ensure uniform navigation practices, navigators participated in annual national training on patient navigation, received bimonthly local training by the research team supplemented by periodic national webinars, and underwent semiannual on-site competency evaluations. 23 After physicians had notified subjects of their abnormal cancer screening test results, navigators contacted subjects and used the care management model to determine what impediments, if any, there were to obtaining the necessary diagnostic follow-up (i.e., any barriers to care). 24 For each subject, navigators (1) …”

Patient Barriers to Follow-Up Care for Breast and Cervical Cancer Abnormalities

“…The navigators attended annual and biannual in-person and webinar PNRP training sessions that covered the role of navigators, cancer research, screening, culture and diversity, mapping health system resources, and more. 34 Interactive role play and lecture provided all navigators a common set of tools with which to identify and remove barriers. All navigators received feedback and suggestions based on their role-play exchanges.…”

“…Evaluation indicated that post-test training scores improved. 34 Locally, Chicago PNRP project leaders observed the navigators' interaction with patients on a weekly basis; project leaders compared their observations on barriers with the navigators' documented barriers. Inconsistencies were discussed and reconciled with the navigator.…”

“…In the effort to remove barriers, patient navigators connect patients to resources and support systems, assist in the healthcare provider interaction, and streamline appointments and paperwork. 34 Several studies have found navigation to be efficacious in terms of improving both the timeliness of diagnostic resolution, 22,[35][36][37] and the stage at cancer diagnosis. [38][39][40] The largest effort to date to examine the role and benefits of navigation (i.e., to assess the timeliness of diagnosis and treatment, patient satisfaction and quality of life, and cost effectiveness) is the Patient Navigation Research Program (PNRP), a 10-site study funded by the National Cancer Institute, with additional support from the American Cancer Society.…”

Peer‐counseling for women newly diagnosed with breast cancer: A randomized community/research collaboration trial

“…Cancer patient navigators are prevalent, though their roles vary 12,13 . In response to growing demand, The National Cancer Institute conducts a national patient-navigator training program 14 . Peer counseling or navigation refers to support offered to people with cancer by cancer survivors 15,16 .…”