Top

Published in:

01-03-2017

Barriers and Challenges of Cancer Patients and Their Experience with Patient Navigators in the Rural US/Mexico Border Region

Authors: Helen Palomino, Diana Peacher, Eunjeong Ko, Susan I. Woodruff, Mercedes Watson

Published in: Journal of Cancer Education | Issue 1/2017

Abstract

Patient navigation is a widely used approach to minimize health disparities among socioeconomically marginalized cancer patients. Although patient navigation is widely used, there is a dearth of studies exploring patient experience with navigators among rural cancer patients. This qualitative study explores the challenges and barriers to cancer care faced by cancer patients living in a US/Mexico border region in Southern California. We individually interviewed 22 cancer patients, most of whom were Latino. Data were analyzed using constant comparison with a reiterative analysis method. The main themes relating to barriers to care and experiences with patient navigators include the following: (1) removing financial barriers, (2) coordinating services, and (3) providing therapeutic interventions. The cancer patients highly valued the navigators for their knowledge about community resources, support, and advocacy. This study suggests that it is imperative that navigators know the regional and binational health care utilization issues that impact patients’ access to cancer care.

Dohan D, Schrag D (2005) Using navigators to improve care of underserved patients. Cancer 104:848–855CrossRefPubMed

American Cancer Society. 2009 Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanics/Latinos 2009-2011. Accessed June 5, 2015 from http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@nho/documents/document/ffhispanicslatinos20092011.pdf. In. 2009.

Eberhardt MS, Pamuk ER (2004) The importance of place of residence: examining health in rural and nonrural areas. Am J Public Health 94:1682–1686CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Beyer KMM, Comstock S, Seagren R, Rushton G (2011) Explaining place-based colorectal cancer health disparities: evidence from a rural context. Soc Sci Med 72:373–382CrossRefPubMed

Natale-Pereira A, Enard KR, Nevarez L, Jones LA (2011) The role of patient navigators in eliminating health disparities. Cancer 117:3541–3550CrossRef

Schootman M, Kinman E, Farria D (2003) Rural-urban differences in ductal carcinoma in situ as a proxy for mammography use over time. J Rural Health 19:470–476CrossRefPubMed

Coughlin SS, Thompson TD, Seeff L et al (2002) Breast, cervical, and colorectal carcinoma screening in a demographically defined region of the southern U.S. Cancer 95:2211–2222CrossRefPubMed

Robie L, Alexandru D, Bota DA (2011) The use of patient navigators to improve cancer care for Hispanic patients. Clin Med Insights Oncol 5:1–7PubMedPubMedCentral

Freund KM, Battaglia TA, Calhoun E et al (2008) The NCI patient navigation research program methods, protocol and measures. Cancer 113:3391–3399CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

10.

Carroll JK, Humiston SG, Meldrum SC et al (2010) Patients’s experiences with navigation for cancer care. Patient Educ Couns 80:241–247CrossRefPubMed

11.

Freund KM, Battaglia TA, Calhoun E et al (2014) Impact of patient navigation on timely cancer care: the Patient Navigation Research Program. J Natl Cancer Inst 106(6)

12.

Ramirez A, Perez-Stable E, Penedo F et al (2014) Reducing time-to-treatment in underserved Latinas with breast cancer: the Six Cities Study. Cancer 120:752–760CrossRefPubMed

13.

Lorhan S, Dennis D, van der Westhuizen M et al (2014) The experience of people with lung cancer with a volunteer-based lay navigation intervention at an outpatient cancer center. Patient Educ Couns 96:237–248CrossRefPubMed

14.

Yosha AM, Carroll JK, Hendren S et al (2011) Patient navigation from the paired perspectives of cancer patients and navigators: a qualitative analysis. Patient Educ Couns 82:396–401CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

15.

Hendren S, Chin N, Fisher S et al (2011) Patients’ barriers to receipt of cancer care, and factors associated with needing more assistance from a patient navigator. J Natl Med Assoc 103:701–710CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

16.

Rousseau S, Humiston S, Yosha A et al (2014) Patient navigation moderates emotion and information demands of cancer treatment: a qualitative analysis. Support Care Cancer 22:3143–3151CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

17.

Schlueter D, Thompson W, Mason T et al (2010) A qualitative evaluation of the Avon Foundation Community Education and Outreach Initiative Patient Navigation Program. J Cancer Educ 25:571–576CrossRefPubMed

18.

Ferrante J, Chen P-H, Kim S (2008) The effect of patient navigation on time to diagnosis, anxiety, and satisfaction in urban minority women with abnormal mammograms: a randomized controlled trial. J Urban Health 85:114–124CrossRefPubMed

19.

Nguyen T-UN, Tran JH, Kagawa-Singer M, Foo MA (2011) A qualitative assessment of community-based breast health navigation services for Southeast Asian women in Southern California: recommendations for developing a navigator training curriculum. Am J Public Health 101:87–93CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

20.

Freeman HP, Vydelingum NA (2006) The role of the special populations networks program in eliminating cancer health disparities. Cancer 107:1933–1935CrossRefPubMed

21.

Strauss A, Corbin J (1998) Basics of qualitative research. Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA

22.

Nedjat-Haiem F, Carrion I, Ell K, Palinkas L (2012) Navigating the advanced cancer experience of underserved Latinas. Support Care Cancer 20:3095–3104CrossRefPubMed

23.

Peacher D, Palomino H, Ko E, Woodruff SI (2013) Cancer resource center of the desert patient navigator program: removing financial barriers to access to cancer care for rural Latinos. Springerplus 2:15CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

24.

Baldwin L-M, Cai Y, Larson EH et al (2008) Access to cancer services for rural colorectal cancer patients. J Rural Health 24:390–399CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

25.

Chan L, Hart LG, Goodman DC (2006) Geographic access to health care for rural Medicare beneficiaries. J Rural Health 22:140–146CrossRefPubMed

26.

Phillips S, Nonzee N, Tom L et al (2014) Patient navigators’ reflections on the navigator-patient relationship. J Cancer Educ 29:337–344CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

27.

Soothill K, Morris SM, Harman J et al (2001) The significant unmet needs of cancer patients: probing psychosocial concerns. Support Care Cancer 9:597–605CrossRefPubMed

Title: Barriers and Challenges of Cancer Patients and Their Experience with Patient Navigators in the Rural US/Mexico Border Region
Authors: Helen Palomino
Diana Peacher
Eunjeong Ko
Susan I. Woodruff
Mercedes Watson
Publication date: 01-03-2017
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Cancer Education / Issue 1/2017
Print ISSN: 0885-8195
Electronic ISSN: 1543-0154
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-015-0906-0

Webinar | 19-02-2024 | 17:30 (CET)

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on antibody–drug conjugates in cancer

Watch now

Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) are novel agents that have shown promise across multiple tumor types. Explore the current landscape of ADCs in breast and lung cancer with our experts, and gain insights into the mechanism of action, key clinical trials data, existing challenges, and future directions.

Dr. Véronique Diéras

Prof. Fabrice Barlesi

Developed by: Springer Medicine

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2017

Effect of Terminal Patient Care Training on the Nurses’ Attitudes Toward Death in an Oncology Hospital in Turkey

Internet Usage Trends in Thoracic Surgery Patients and Their Caregivers

The Role of Community Education in Increasing Knowledge of Breast Health and Cancer: Findings from the Asian Breast Cancer Project in Boston, Massachusetts

Cultivating Interest in Oncology Through a Medical Student Oncology Society

User Perceptions and Reactions to an Online Cancer Risk Assessment Tool: a Process Evaluation of Cancer Risk Check

Prostate Cancer on the Web—Expedient Tool for Patients’ Decision-Making?

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on antibody–drug conjugates in cancer