Exploring classes of cancer patient navigators and determinants of navigator role retention.

BACKGROUND: In the current nationwide study, the authors used latent class analysis (LCA) to identify classes of cancer patient navigators (CPNs) and examined whether class membership and 12 indicators were related to navigator role retention. METHODS: By using data from 460 CPNs in the United States, LCA identified classes (ie, homogenous subgroups) of CPNs with the following indicators: type of CPN (clinical vs nonclinical), education level, area(s) of the cancer care continuum in which the CPN provided patient navigation, region and urbanity where the CPN provided services, organizational work setting, and patient navigation program funding source. The associations of navigator retention with class membership and each indicator were examined using χ2 tests. RESULTS: LCA identified 3 classes of CPNs. Classes 1 and 3 were conceptualized as distinct, homogeneous subgroups of clinical CPNs that appeared to differ mainly on their likelihood of engagement in outreach, survivorship, palliative care, and end-of-life patient navigation. Class 2 was conceptualized as a nonclinical CPN subgroup that was distinct primarily based on their high endorsement of employment in programs, which are at least partially funded by grants and engagement in earlier stages of patient navigation (eg, early detection). The provision of survivorship and treatment patient navigation was related to navigator role retention, with senior CPNs providing these patient navigation services more than novice CPNs. CONCLUSIONS: The current study highlights 3 distinct classes of CPNs, provides initial information regarding determinants of navigator retention, and makes several recommendations for future patient navigation research.

Comparing clinical and nonclinical cancer patient navigators: A national study in the United States.

BACKGROUND: A nationwide survey was conducted to examine differences between clinical and nonclinical oncology navigators in their service provision, engagement in the cancer care continuum, personal characteristics, and program characteristics. METHODS: Using convenience sampling, 527 oncology navigators participated and completed an online survey. Descriptive statistics, χ2 statistics, and t tests were used to compare nonclinical (eg, community health worker) and clinical (eg, nurse navigators) navigators on the provision of various navigation services, personal characteristics, engagement in the cancer care continuum, and program characteristics. RESULTS: Most participants were clinical navigators (76.1%). Compared to nonclinical navigators, clinical navigators were more likely to have a bachelor's degree or higher (88.6% vs 69.6%, P < .001), be funded by operational budgets (84.4% vs 35.7%, P < .001), and less likely to work at a community-based organization or nonprofit (2.0% vs 36.5%, P < .001). Clinical navigators were more likely to perform basic navigation (P < .001), care coordination (P < .001), treatment support (P < .001), and clinical trial/peer support (P = .005). Clinical navigators were more likely to engage in treatment (P < .001), end-of-life (P < .001), and palliative care (P = .001) navigation. CONCLUSIONS: There is growing indication that clinical and nonclinical oncology navigators perform different functions and work in different settings. Nonclinical navigators may be more likely to face job insecurity because they work in nonprofit organizations and are primarily funded by grants.

The association between breast cancer capacity and resources with incidence and mortality in Arizona's low populous counties.

INTRODUCTION: While cancer deaths have decreased nationally, declines have been much slower in rural areas than in urban areas. Previous studies on rural cancer service capacity are limited to specific points along the cancer care continuum (eg screening, diagnosis or treatment) and require updating to capture the current rural health landscape since implementation of the 2010 Affordable Care Act in the USA. The association between current rural cancer service capacity across the cancer care continuum and cancer incidence and death is unclear. This cross-sectional study explored the association between breast cancer service capacity and incidence and mortality in Arizona's low populous counties. METHODS: To measure county-level cancer capacity, clinical organizations operating within low populous areas of Arizona were surveyed to assess on-site breast cancer services provided (screening, diagnosis and treatment) and number of healthcare providers were pulled from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services National Provider Identifier database. The number of clinical sites and healthcare providers were converted to county-level per capita rates. Rural-Urban Continuum codes were used to designate rural or urban county status. Age-adjusted county-level breast cancer incidence and death rates from 2010 to 2016 were obtained from the Arizona Department of Health Services, Arizona Cancer Registry. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the results. Multivariate regression was used to evaluate the association between cancer service capacity and incidence and mortality in 13 out of Arizona's 15 counties. RESULTS: Rural counties had more per capita clinical sites (20.4) than urban counties (8.9) (p=0.02). Urban counties had more per capita pathologists (1.0) than rural counties (0) (p≤0.01). In addition to zero pathologists, rural counties had zero medical oncologists. Rural county status was associated with a decrease in breast cancer incidence (β=-20.1, 95% confidence interval: -37.2-3.1). CONCLUSION: While Arizona's sparsely populated rural counties may have more physical infrastructure per capita, these services are dispersed over vast geographic areas. They lack specialists providing cancer services. Non-physician clinical providers may be more prevalent in rural areas and represent opportunities for improving access to cancer preventive services and care. Compared to urban counties, rural county status was associated with lower detected breast cancer incidence rates although there were no statistically significant differences in breast cancer mortality. Other factors may contribute to rural-urban differences in breast cancer incidence. Future research should explore these factors and the association between cancer capacity and local resources because the use of county-level data represents a challenge in Arizona, where counties average over 19 425 km2 (7500 square miles).

Leveraging system sciences methods in clinical trial evaluation: An example concerning African American women diagnosed with breast cancer via the Patient Navigation in Medically Underserved Areas study.

BACKGROUND: Systems science methodologies offer a promising assessment approach for clinical trials by: 1) providing an in-silico laboratory to conduct investigations where purely empirical research may be infeasible or unethical; and, 2) offering a more precise measurement of intervention benefits across individual, network, and population levels. We propose to assess the potential of systems sciences methodologies by quantifying the spillover effects of randomized controlled trial via empirical social network analysis and agent-based models (ABM). DESIGN/METHODS: We will evaluate the effects of the Patient Navigation in Medically Underserved Areas (PNMUA) study on adult African American participants diagnosed with breast cancer and their networks through social network analysis and agent-based modeling. First, we will survey 100 original trial participants (50 navigated, 50 non-navigated) and 150 of members of their social networks (75 from navigated, 75 non-navigated) to assess if navigation results in: 1) greater dissemination of breast health information and breast healthcare utilization throughout the trial participants' networks; and, 2) lower incremental costs, when incorporating navigation effects on trial participants and network members. Second, we will compare cost-effectiveness models, using a provider perspective, incorporating effects on trial participants versus trial participants and network members. Third, we will develop an ABM platform, parameterized using published data sources and PNMUA data, to examine if navigation increases the proportion of early stage breast cancer diagnoses. DISCUSSION: Our study results will provide promising venues for leveraging systems science methodologies in clinical trial evaluation.

Increasing Economic Burden in Hospitalized Patients With Cirrhosis: Analysis of a National Database.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of cirrhosis is increasing despite advances in therapeutics, and it remains an expensive medical condition. Studies examining the healthcare burden of inpatient cirrhosis-related care regardless of etiology, stage, or severity are lacking. This study aims to describe the current drivers of cost, length of stay (LOS), and mortality in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis. METHODS: Using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) data from 2008 to 2014, we categorized admissions into decompensated cirrhosis (DC), compensated cirrhosis (CC), and NIS without cirrhosis. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were used to analyze the association between patient characteristics, comorbidities, complications, and procedures with costs, LOS, and mortality in each group. RESULTS: The hospitalization costs for patients with cirrhosis increased 30.2% from 2008 to 2014 to $7.37 billion. Cirrhosis admissions increased by 36% and 24% in the DC and CC groups, respectively, compared with 7.7% decrease in the NIS without cirrhosis group. DC admissions contributed to 58.6% of total cirrhotic admissions by 2014. Procedures increased costs in both DC and CC groups by 15%-152%, with mechanical ventilation being associated with high cost increase and mortality increase. Complications are also key drivers of costs and LOS, with renal and infectious complications being associated with the highest increases in the DC group and infections and nonportal hypertensive gastrointestinal bleeding for the CC group. DISCUSSION: Economic burden of hospitalized patients with cirrhosis is increasing with more admissions and longer LOS in DC and CC groups. Important drivers include procedures and portal hypertensive and nonportal hypertensive complications.

Geographic Variability in Liver Disease-Related Mortality Rates in the United States.

PURPOSE: Liver disease is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Geographic variations in the burden of chronic liver disease may have significant impact on public health policies but have not been explored at the national level. The objective of this study is to examine interstate variability in liver disease mortality in the United States. METHODS: We compared liver disease mortality from the 2010 National Vital Statistics Report on a state level. States in each quartile of liver disease mortality were compared with regard to viral hepatitis death rates, alcohol consumption, obesity, ethnic and racial composition, and household income. Race, ethnicity, and median household income data were derived from the 2010 US Census. Alcohol consumption and obesity data were obtained from the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: We found significant interstate variability in liver disease mortality, ranging from 6.4 to 17.0 per 100,000. The South and the West carry some of the highest rates of liver disease mortality. In addition to viral hepatitis death rates, there is a strong correlation between higher percentage of Hispanic population and a state's liver disease mortality rate (r = 0.538, P < .001). Lower household income (r = 0.405, P = .003) was also associated with the higher liver disease mortality. While there was a trend between higher obesity rates and higher liver disease mortality, the correlation was not strong and there was no clear association between alcohol consumption and liver disease mortality rates.