Postpartum navigation decreases severe maternal morbidity most among Black women.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum care is crucial for addressing conditions associated with severe maternal morbidity and mortality. Examination of programs that affect these outcomes for women at high risk, including disparate populations, is needed. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine whether a postpartum navigation program decreases all-cause 30-day postpartum hospitalizations and hospitalizations because of severe maternal morbidity identified using the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. The effect of this program was explored across patient demographics, including race and ethnicity. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study that used health records of women who delivered at 3 large hospitals in the New York metropolitan area (Queens and Long Island) between April 2020 and November 2021 and who were at high risk of severe maternal morbidity. The incidence rates of 30-day postpartum all-cause hospitalization and hospitalization because of severe maternal morbidity were compared between women who were and were not enrolled in a novel postpartum transitional care management program. Navigation included standardized assessments, development of care plans, clinical management, and connection to clinical and social services that would extend beyond the postpartum period. Because the program prioritized enrolling women of the greatest risk, the risk-adjusted incidence was estimated using multivariate Poisson regression and stratified across patient demographics. RESULTS: Patient health records of 5819 women were included for analysis. Of note, 5819 of 19,258 deliveries (30.2%) during the study period were identified as having a higher risk of severe maternal morbidity. This was consistent with the incidence of high-risk pregnancies for tertiary hospitals in the New York metropolitan area. The condition most identified for risk of severe maternal morbidity at the time of delivery was hypertension (3171/5819 [54.5%]). The adjusted incidence of all-cause rehospitalization was 20% lower in enrollees than in nonenrollees (incident rate ratio, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.67-0.95). Rehospitalization was decreased the most among Black women (incident rate ratio, 0.57; 95% confidence interval, 0.42-0.80). The adjusted incidence of rehospitalization because of indicators of severe maternal morbidity was 56% lower in enrollees than in nonenrollees (incident rate ratio, 0.44; 95% confidence interval, 0.24-0.77). Furthermore, it decreased most among Black women (incident rate ratio, 0.23; 95% confidence interval, 0.07-0.73). CONCLUSION: High-risk medical conditions at the time of delivery increased the risk of postpartum hospitalization, including hospitalizations because of severe maternal morbidity. A postpartum navigation program designed to identify and resolve clinical and social needs reduced postpartum hospitalizations and racial disparities with hospitalizations. Hospitals and healthcare systems should adopt this type of care model for women at high risk of severe maternal morbidity. Cost analyses are needed to evaluate the financial effect of postpartum navigation programs for women at high risk of severe maternal morbidity or mortality, which could influence reimbursement for these types of services. Further evidence and details of novel postpartum interventional models are needed for future studies.

The Effect of a Patient Navigator on Treatment Abandonment and Follow-up for High Grade Osteosarcoma Patients in the Philippine General Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Treatment abandonment for osteosarcoma is a significant problem in developing countries with rates as high as 70%. This study aimed to determine the effect of a patient navigator on treatment abandonment and patient follow-up of osteosarcoma patients at a tertiary referral center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of osteosarcoma patients was performed investigating 2 cohorts based on the start of the patient navigator. Group 1 (Pre-Patient Navigator, n=46) were treated from January 2016 to December 2017 while Group 2 (Post-Patient Navigator, n=29) were treated from January 2018 to June 2019. The primary outcome investigated was treatment abandonment defined as missing 4 or more consecutive weeks of treatment. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to investigate the effect of the patient navigator on the cohorts. RESULTS: Treatment abandonment rates for the Pre-Patient Navigator group was significantly higher compared to those with a patient navigator (50% vs 6%, p=0.0001). Abandonment for the pre-navigator group occurred at a mean of 2.9 months (0 - 9 months, median 3 months). Fourteen of 23 patients who abandoned from Group 1 did not proceed to neoadjuvant chemotherapy while 3 patients abandoned after completing 1 cycle of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. In the patient navigator group, no patients abandoned prior to completing 3 cycles of chemotherapy. One patient abandoned after refusing a below knee amputation after 3 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 1 patient did not complete further chemotherapy after having a hip disarticulation. Patient feedback on the patient navigator experience was favorable. CONCLUSIONS: Having a patient navigator from diagnosis throughout treatment reduced treatment abandonment rates in osteosarcoma patients and may serve as a model for other low to middle income countries.

Outcomes and costs of publicly funded patient navigation interventions to enhance HIV care continuum outcomes in the United States: A before-and-after study.

BACKGROUND: In the United States, patients with HIV face significant barriers to linkage to and retention in care which impede the necessary steps toward achieving the desired clinical outcome of viral suppression. Individual-level interventions, such as patient navigation, are evidence based, effective strategies for improving care engagement. In addition, use of surveillance and clinical data to identify patients who are not fully engaged in care may improve the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of these programs. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We employed a pre-post design to estimate the outcomes and costs, from the program perspective, of 5 state-level demonstration programs funded under the Health Resources and Services Administration's Special Projects of National Significance Program (HRSA/SPNS) Systems Linkages Initiative that employed existing surveillance and/or clinical data to identify individuals who had never entered HIV care, had fallen out of care, or were at risk of falling out of care and navigation strategies to engage patients in HIV care. Outcomes and costs were measured relative to standard of care during the first year of implementation of the interventions (2013 to 2014). We followed patients to estimate the number and proportion of additional patients linked, reengaged, retained, and virally suppressed by 12 months after enrollment in the interventions. We employed inverse probability weighting to adjust for differences in patient characteristics across programs, missing data, and loss to follow-up. We estimated the additional costs expended during the first year of each intervention and the cost per outcome of each intervention as the additional cost per HIV additional care continuum target achieved (cost per patient linked, reengaged, retained, and virally suppressed) 12 months after enrollment in each intervention. In this study, 3,443 patients were enrolled in Louisiana (LA), Massachusetts (MA), North Carolina (NC), Virginia (VA), and Wisconsin (WI) (147, 151, 2,491, 321, and 333, respectively). Patients were a mean of 40 years old, 75% male, and African American (69%) or Caucasian (22%). At baseline, 24% were newly diagnosed, 2% had never been in HIV care, 45% had fallen out of care, and 29% were at risk of falling out of care. All 5 interventions were associated with increases in the number and proportion of patients with viral suppression [percent increase: LA = 90.9%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 88.4 to 93.4; MA = 78.1%, 95% CI = 72.4 to 83.8; NC = 47.5%, 95% CI = 45.2 to 49.8; VA = 54.6, 95% CI = 49.4 to 59.9; WI = 58.4, 95% CI = 53.4 to 63.4]. Overall, interventions cost an additional $4,415 (range = $3,746 to $5,619), $2,009 (range = $1,516 to $2,274), $920 (range = $627 to $941), $2,212 (range = $1,789 to $2,683), and $3,700 ($2,734 to $4,101), respectively per additional patient virally suppressed. The results of this study are limited in that we did not have contemporaneous controls for each intervention; thus, we are only able to assess patients against themselves at baseline and not against standard of care during the same time period. CONCLUSIONS: Patient navigation programs were associated with improvements in engagement of patients in HIV care and viral suppression. Cost per outcome was minimized in states that utilized surveillance data to identify individuals who were out of care and/or those that were able to identify a larger number of patients in need of improvement at baseline. These results have the potential to inform the targeting and design of future navigation-type interventions.

Effect of Family Navigation on Diagnostic Ascertainment Among Children at Risk for Autism: A Randomized Clinical Trial From DBPNet.

Importance: Early identification of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with improved cognitive and behavioral outcomes. Targeted strategies are needed to support equitable access to diagnostic services to ensure that children from low-income and racial/ethnic minority families receive the benefits of early ASD identification and treatment. Objective: To test the efficacy of family navigation (FN), an individually tailored, culturally informed care management strategy, to increase the likelihood of achieving diagnostic ascertainment among young children at risk for ASD. Design, Setting, and Participants: This randomized clinical trial of 249 families of children aged 15 to 27 months who had positive screening results for possible ASD was conducted in 11 urban primary care sites in 3 cities. Data collection occurred from February 24, 2015, through November 5, 2018. Statistical analysis was performed on an intent-to-treat basis from November 5, 2018, to July 27, 2020. Interventions: Families were randomized to FN or conventional care management (CCM). Families receiving FN were assigned a navigator who conducted community-based outreach to families to address structural barriers to care and support engagement in recommended services. Families receiving CCM were assigned to a care manager, who did limited telephone outreach. Families received FN or CCM after positive initial screening results and for 100 days after diagnostic ascertainment. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome, diagnostic ascertainment, was measured as the number of days from randomization to completion of the child's clinical developmental evaluation, when a diagnosis of ASD or other developmental disorder was determined. Results: Among 250 families randomized, 249 were included in the primary analysis (174 boys [69.9%]; mean [SD] age, 22.0 [3.5] months; 205 [82.3%] publicly insured; 233 [93.6%] non-White). Children who received FN had a greater likelihood of reaching diagnostic ascertainment over the course of 1 year (FN, 108 of 126 [85.7%]; CCM, 94 of 123 [76.4%]; unadjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.39 [95% CI, 1.05-1.84]). Site (Boston, New Haven, and Philadelphia) and ethnicity (Hispanic vs non-Hispanic) moderated the effect of FN (treatment × site interaction; P = .03; Boston: HR, 2.07 [95% CI, 1.31-3.26]; New Haven: HR, 1.91 [95% CI, 0.94-3.89]; and Philadelphia: HR, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.60-1.37]) (treatment × ethnicity interaction; P < .001; Hispanic families: HR, 2.81 [95% CI, 2.23-3.54] vs non-Hispanic families: HR, 1.49 [95% CI, 1.45-1.53]). The magnitude of FN's effect was significantly greater among Hispanic families than among non-Hispanic families (diagnostic ascertainment among Hispanic families: FN, 90.9% [30 of 33], and CCM, 53.3% [16 of 30]; vs non-Hispanic families: FN, 89.7% [35 of 39], and CCM, 77.5% [31 of 40]). Conclusions and Relevance: Family navigation improved the likelihood of diagnostic ascertainment among children from racial/ethnic minority, low-income families who were detected as at risk for ASD in primary care. Results suggest differential effects of FN by site and ethnicity. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02359084.

A mobile application to monitor mode, content and duration of health navigation services for people living with HIV in Guatemala.

Health navigation is increasingly being used to support people living with HIV, but timely monitoring of navigation is challenging due to the burden of reporting a high volume of diverse activities. We designed a mobile application (app) for navigators to report their interactions with men who have sex with men living with HIV (n = 374), including: (1) mode of support; (2) content; and (3) duration. We assessed sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics of the study sample and calculated monitoring system indicators. We also conducted qualitative interviews with navigators (n = 7) and used thematic analysis to assess app acceptability and usability. From January 2017 to June 2018, 95.3% of participants interacted with their navigator at least one time and 4281 reports were recorded by nine navigators. The median number of interactions per participant was 10 (range: 1-46). The majority of interactions (71.6%) occurred remotely. Most frequently covered topics included: appointment reminders (36.9%), employment (19.9%), and family (15.5%). Navigators indicated that the system was easy to use, but some did not use it in real time as intended. Timely access to navigator data enabled feedback and continuous training. These data can also facilitate analysis of intensity and content of interactions to improve tailoring and sustainability.

Implementing hospital-based peer recovery support services for substance use disorder.

BACKGROUND: The rise in drug overdose deaths in the United States necessitates novel approaches to reduce harms. In response, peer recovery support services for substance use disorder have been implemented in clinical and community settings in several states. OBJECTIVES: This descriptive analysis aimed to describe the implementation of hospital-based peer recovery support services for substance use disorder. METHODS: We describe the implementation of the Peer Recovery Program, which delivers recovery support services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for patients with substance use disorder in emergency departments and inpatient settings across 20 hospitals. We report program, patient, and referral characteristics and program process measures. RESULTS: From 2016 to 2019, Recovery Specialists received referrals during 30,263 patient visits. In 2019, 65.4% (n = 7,564) of patients were male. Across three subsamples of referrals, patient acceptance of continued recovery support services ranged from 74.8% to 83.0%. At affiliated hospitals in 2019, the median response time from referral to Recovery Specialist arrival at patient bedside was eight minutes (interquartile range = 4-16), and the median duration of initial bedside consultation was 35 minutes (interquartile range = 25-45). In 2019, Recovery Specialists and Patient Navigators attempted 113,442 follow-up contacts, and patients accepted 4,696 referrals provided by Patient Navigators to substance use disorder treatment and other medical, social, and recovery services and supports. CONCLUSIONS: This study describes peer recovery support services for substance use disorder delivered in emergency departments and inpatient settings. Evidence of improved patient outcomes is needed prior to widespread adoption.

Is Patient Navigation Used by People with HIV Who Need It? An Assessment from the Medical Monitoring Project, 2015 - 2017.

We (1) estimated the prevalence of not getting patient navigation despite feeling a need for the service (unmet subjective need) or despite having unsuppressed viral load (unmet objective need) among people with HIV (PWH), (2) determined reasons why PWH did not use the service, and (3) determined factors associated with unmet need for patient navigation. We used combined data from the 2015 to 2017 cycles of the Medical Monitoring Project, an HIV surveillance system designed to produce nationally representative estimates of the characteristics of adults with diagnosed HIV infection in the United States. Six percent reported unmet subjective need and 28% had unmet objective need for patient navigation. When needs were combined, more than a third had unmet need for the service. Among PWH with unmet subjective need for patient navigation, 77% reported lack of knowledge about patient navigation as a reason for nonuse. Younger age, female gender, racial/ethnic minority status, limited health literacy, homelessness, incarceration history, lack of health insurance/coverage, noninjection drug use, depression, and recent HIV diagnosis were associated with unmet subjective or objective need for patient navigation. One in three PWH did not use patient navigation despite needing the service. Lack of knowledge about patient navigation was a barrier to use, calling for increased availability, and promotion of such services. PWH with social and economic vulnerabilities were less likely to get patient navigation when needed. It is important to address the question of how to make this service available to everyone who needs it.

Apoyo con Cariño: A Qualitative Analysis of a Palliative Care-Focused Lay Patient Navigation Intervention for Hispanics With Advanced Cancer.

A lay patient navigator model involving a culturally tailored intervention to improve palliative care outcomes for Hispanics with advanced cancer was tested across 3 urban and 5 rural cancer centers in Colorado. Five home visits were delivered over 3 months to 112 patients assigned to the randomized controlled trial's intervention arm. Grounded in core Hispanic values, visits addressed palliative care domains (advance care planning, pain/symptom management, and hospice utilization). To describe the content of patient navigator visits with patients/family caregivers, research team members analyzed 4 patient navigators' field notes comprising 499 visits to 112 patients. Based on previous work, codes were established a priori to identify ways patient navigators help patients/family caregivers. Key words and comments from field notes were classified into themes using ATLAS.ti and additional codes established. Nine common themes and exemplars describing the lay patient navigator role are described: activation/empowerment, advocacy, awareness, access, building rapport, providing support, exploring barriers, symptom screening, and the patient experience. Patient navigators used advocacy, activation, education, and motivational interviewing to address patient/family concerns and reduce barriers to quality palliative care in urban and rural settings. Adapting and implementing this model across cultures has potential to improve palliative care access to underserved populations.

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.

Improving Surgical Start Times by Improving Wayfinding.

PURPOSE: This performance improvement project was undertaken to reduce costly delays in first-case, operating room (OR) start times. DESIGN: Two Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycles. METHODS: In PDSA 1, student nurses observed 30 patients' paths of travel from hospital entrance to OR and documented time spent at key stopping points. Directional signs were placed after PDSA 1. PDSA 2 consisted of an electronic medical record (EMR) review of pre- and postsignage cases (n = 492 and n = 538 respectively). FINDINGS: In the initial PDSA cycle (n = 30), one reason for delay was the time patients spent finding the preoperative area (POA). Signage was placed at strategic points noted to confuse patients. PDSA cycle 2 found median presignage POA arrival times (34 minutes) were significantly higher than postsignage POA arrival times (20 minutes) (U = 51,618.0, z = -16.934, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Delayed wayfinding contributed to delayed OR starts but improved with appropriate signage.

Expanding Urgent Oncofertility Services for Reproductive Age Women Remote from a Tertiary Level Fertility Centre by Use of Telemedicine and an On-site Nurse Navigator.

The objective of this study was to examine a 1-year pilot program aimed at increasing access to fertility preservation (FP) information and services for reproductive-age women newly diagnosed with cancer at a centre geographically remote from a tertiary fertility clinic. An oncofertility nurse navigator (ONN) position was created within the regional cancer centre with the goals of (1) improving local physician knowledge of FP and FP services and (2) improving patient access to FP counselling and services. The ONN identified all women diagnosed with cancer requiring treatment that could impact their fertility and discussed FP options with them and their physicians. As part of a comprehensive program aimed at facilitating access to FP services, the ONN arranged consultations with fertility specialists via telemedicine and coordinated satellite cycle monitoring with a local gynaecologist in order to minimize travel. Patients were surveyed about their reproductive plans, decision-making around FP and experiences with the program. Physicians were surveyed about their engagement with FP services, barriers to FP access and satisfaction with the program. Twenty-two women were eligible for FP during the year-long pilot program. All participated in the study. The most common diagnoses were breast and cervical cancer. At the time of diagnosis, 36.4% of women had no biological children and 68.2% did not desire (more) children. Four women had an FP consultation, and two proceeded with oocyte or embryo cryopreservation. At the end of the pilot program, more physician respondents often or always discussed FP with their patients, stated they frequently refer for FP consultations and stated their patients could obtain FP services in a timely fashion. An ONN within a cancer centre remote from tertiary fertility care can enable access to FP services with minimal need for travel by using local gynaecologic expertise and telemedicine.

Effects of a Community-to-Clinic Navigation Intervention on Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Underserved People.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer screening remains suboptimal among poor and underserved people. PURPOSE: We tested the effectiveness of a community-to-clinic navigator intervention to guide multicultural, underinsured individuals into primary care clinics to complete colorectal cancer screening. METHODS: This two-phase behavioral intervention study was conducted in Phoenix, Arizona (2012-2018). Community sites were randomized to group education or group education plus tailored navigation to increase attendance at primary care clinics (Phase I). Individuals who completed a clinic appointment received the tailored navigation in person or via phone (Phase II). RESULTS: In Phase I (N = 345), 37.9% of the intervention group scheduled a clinic appointment versus 19.4% of the comparison group. In Phase II, 26.5% of the original intervention group were screened versus only 10.4% of the original comparison group. Those in the intervention group were 3.84 times more likely to be screened than were those in the comparison group (odds ratio = 3.84; 95% confidence interval = 1.81-6.92). CONCLUSIONS: Translation of an efficacious tailored navigation intervention for colorectal cancer screening to a community-to-clinic context is associated with significantly increased rates of colorectal cancer screening. Navigation assistance to address barriers to screening may serve as the most important component of any educational program to increase individual adherence to colorectal cancer screening.

Comparative Effectiveness of Two Interventions to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening for Those at Increased Risk Based on Family History: Results of a Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: First-degree relatives (FDR) of patients with colorectal cancer are at risk for colorectal cancer, but may not be up to date with colorectal cancer screening. We sought to determine whether a one-time recommendation about needing colorectal cancer screening using patient navigation (PN) was better than just receiving the recommendation only. METHODS: Participants were FDRs of patients with Lynch syndrome-negative colorectal cancer from participating Ohio hospitals. FDRs from 259 families were randomized to a website intervention (528 individuals), which included a survey and personal colorectal cancer screening recommendation, while those from 254 families were randomized to the website plus telephonic PN intervention (515 individuals). Primary outcome was adherence to the personal screening recommendation (to get screened or not to get screened) received from the website. Secondary outcomes examined who benefited from adding PN. RESULTS: At the end of the 14-month follow-up, 78.6% of participants were adherent to their recommendation for colorectal cancer screening with adherence similar between arms (P = 0.14). Among those who received a recommendation to have a colonoscopy immediately, the website plus PN intervention significantly increased the odds of receiving screening, compared with the website intervention (OR: 2.98; 95% confidence interval, 1.68-5.28). CONCLUSIONS: Addition of PN to a website intervention did not improve adherence to a colorectal cancer screening recommendation overall; however, the addition of PN was more effective in increasing adherence among FDRs who needed screening immediately. IMPACT: These findings provide important information as to when the additional costs of PN are needed to assure colorectal cancer screening among those at high risk for colorectal cancer.

Promoting colonoscopy screening among low-income Latinos at average risk of colorectal cancer: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Screening colonoscopy (SC) for colorectal cancer (CRC) is underused by Latino individuals. The current randomized clinical trial examined the impact of 3 interventions: 1) patient navigation; 2) patient navigation plus standard Centers for Disease Control and Prevention print materials; and 3) patient navigation plus culturally targeted print materials for Latinos referred for SC. Demographic, personal and health history, and psychometric factors associated with SC also were examined. METHODS: A total of 344 urban Latino individuals aged 50 to 85 years with no personal and/or immediate family history of CRC diagnosed before age 60 years, no personal history of a gastrointestinal disorder, no colonoscopy within the past 5 years, with insurance coverage, and with a referral for SC were consented. Participants were randomized to patient navigation (20%), patient navigation plus standard Centers for Disease Control and Prevention print materials (40%), and patient navigation plus culturally targeted print materials (40%). The completion of SC was assessed at 12 months. RESULTS: The interventions had an overall SC rate of 82%. Counterintuitively, patients with an average income of <$10,000 were found to have higher SC rates (87%) than those with a greater income (75%). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of standard or culturally targeted print materials did not appear to increase SC rates above those for patient navigation. Indeed, after controlling for other variables, culturally targeted print materials were found to be associated with lower SC rates among Puerto Rican individuals.

Mailed FIT (fecal immunochemical test), navigation or patient reminders? Using microsimulation to inform selection of interventions to increase colorectal cancer screening in Medicaid enrollees.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) can be effectively prevented or detected with guideline concordant screening, yet Medicaid enrollees experience disparities. We used microsimulation to project CRC screening patterns, CRC cases averted, and life-years gained in the population of 68,077 Oregon Medicaid enrollees 50-64 over a five year period starting in January 2019. The simulation estimated the cost-effectiveness of five intervention scenarios - academic detailing plus provider audit and feedback (Detailing+), patient reminders (Reminders), mailing a Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) directly to the patient's home (Mailed FIT), patient navigation (Navigation), and mailed FIT with Navigation (Mailed FIT + Navigation) - compared to usual care. Each intervention scenario raised CRC screening rates compared to usual care, with improvements as high as 11.6 percentage points (Mailed FIT + Navigation) and as low as 2.5 percentage points (Reminders) after one year. Compared to usual care, Mailed FIT + Navigation would raise CRC screening rates 20.2 percentage points after five years - averting nearly 77 cancer cases (a reduction of 113 per 100,000) and exceeding national screening targets. Over a five year period, Reminders, Mailed FIT and Mailed FIT + Navigation were expected to be cost effective if stakeholders were willing to pay $230 or less per additional year up-to-date (at a cost of $22, $59, and $227 respectively), whereas Detailing+ and Navigation were more costly for the same benefits. To approach national CRC screening targets, health system stakeholders are encouraged to implement Mailed FIT with or without Navigation and Reminders.

Patient navigator reported patient barriers and delivered activities in two large federally-funded cancer screening programs.

Few data are available on patient navigators (PNs) across diverse roles and organizational settings that could inform optimization of patient navigation models for cancer prevention. The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) and the Colorectal Cancer and Control Program (CRCCP) are two federally-funded screening programs that support clinical- and community-based PNs who serve low-income and un- or underinsured populations across the United States. An online survey assessing PN characteristics, delivered activities, and patient barriers to screening was completed by 437 of 1002 identified PNs (44%). Responding PNs were racially and ethnically diverse, had varied professional backgrounds and practice-settings, worked with diverse populations, and were located within rural and urban/suburban locations across the U.S. More PNs reported working to promote screening for breast/cervical cancers (BCC, 94%) compared to colorectal cancer (CRC, 39%). BCC and CRC PNs reported similar frequencies of individual- (e.g., knowledge, motivation, fear) and community-level patient barriers (e.g., beliefs about healthcare and screening). Despite reporting significant patient structural barriers (e.g., transportation, work and clinic hours), most BCC and CRC PNs delivered individual-level navigation activities (e.g., education, appointment reminders). PN training to identify and champion timely and patient-centered adjustments to organizational policies, practices, and norms of the NBCCEDP, CRCCP, and partner organizations may be beneficial. More research is needed to determine whether multilevel interventions that support this approach could reduce structural barriers and increase screening and diagnostic follow-up among the marginalized communities served by these two important cancer-screening programs.

Using Public Claims Data for Neighborhood Level Epidemiologie Surveillance of Breast Cancer Screening: Findings from Evaluating a Patient Navigation Program in Chicago's Chinatown.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate a patient navigation program undertaken with our community partners in Chicago's Chinatown. Inadvertently, the study collected data on two biannual mammography screening cycles that coincided almost exactly with implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in Illinois. METHODS: The study uses claims data to profile mammography screening rates for residents of an 18 zip code, 398 census tract area on Chicago's near south and southwest side. Patient addresses were geocoded from biannual (August 2011 to July 2103 and August 2103 to July 2015) Illinois Medicaid and Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP) claims. Screening rates are presented separately for low-income women ages 40 to 49 and 50 to 64 years. We compare change between 16 tracts with greater than 20% Chinese ancestry, 85 tracts with 1% to 20% Chinese ancestry, and 297 tracts with less than 1% Chinese ancestry. RESULTS: There were more than 65,000 low-income women age 40 to 64 in the study area (mammogram patients were 63% Black, 23% Hispanic, 10% White, 2.5% Asian, and 2.5% other/unknown race and ethnicity). The increase in screening was greatest in Chinatown, although mean rates were not significantly different across the three areas (p = .07). DISCUSSION: Our results demonstrate large increases in mammography screening after ACA implementation in 20132014. The greatest increase occurred in the Chinatown patient navigation program area. The study provides a template for programs aimed at using public community-area data to evaluate programs for improving access to care and health equity.

The use of mobile technology and peer navigation to promote adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivorship care: results of a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors experience unique barriers that compromise receipt of survivorship care; therefore, development of innovative educational interventions to improve rates of AYA survivorship care is needed. The efficacy of text-messaging and peer navigation interventions was compared to standard-of-care survivorship educational materials to increase AYAs' (1) late effects knowledge and (2) knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy towards seeking survivor-focused care. METHODS: This was a three-armed, prospective, randomized controlled trial with one control group and two intervention groups. The control group received current standard-of-care educational materials. One intervention group participated in a text-messaging program, and the second participated in a peer navigator program. Participants completed pre- and post-intervention questionnaires. Study outcome variables were quantified using Fisher exact tests, two-sample t tests, exact McNemar tests, conditional logistic regression models, and analysis of covariance. RESULTS: Seventy-one survivors completed the study (control n = 24; text-messaging n = 23; peer navigation n = 24). Late effects knowledge was high at baseline for all groups. The text-messaging group had increased survivorship care knowledge compared to the control group (p < 0.05); the peer navigation group had increased survivorship care self-efficacy compared to the control group; p < 0.05. Both intervention groups showed increased attitudes towards seeking survivor-focused care compared to the control group (text-messaging p < 0.05; peer navigation p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Each intervention demonstrated significant benefits compared to the control group. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Given the preliminary effectiveness of both interventions, each can potentially be used in the future by AYA cancer survivors to educate and empower them to obtain needed survivorship care.

A Randomized Study of Passive versus Active PrEP Patient Navigation for a Heterogeneous Population at Risk for HIV in South Florida.

Effective approaches to promoting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and linkage to PrEP care among those who may benefit the most from PrEP has proven to be a major challenge. We designed and pilot tested a strengths-based case management (SBCM) intervention for PrEP linkage. Adults interested in PrEP and meeting criteria (n = 61) were randomized to passive referral (control) or active SBCM (treatment). Outcomes measured were completion of provider visit, initiation of PrEP, and time to initiation of PrEP. Overall, 34% initiated PrEP by 12 weeks: 9 (29%) in the control group and 12 (40%) in the treatment group. The mean time to PrEP initiation was 13.1 weeks (95% confidence interval, 12.0-14.2) with no difference between groups ( P = .382). There was a 21% difference in achieving a provider visit between the treatment and control groups (53.3% versus 32.3%) by 12 weeks ( P = .096). Participants encountered financial, logistical, social, and provider-related barriers to PrEP access. Strengths-based case management-based patient navigation is a promising strategy for assisting PrEP seekers in obtaining a medical provider visit and initiating PrEP.

Cost Savings from a Navigator Intervention for Repeat Detoxification Clients.

BACKGROUND: Many clients with substance use disorders (SUD) have multiple admissions to a 24-hour level of care for detoxification without ever progressing to SUD treatment. In the US, health insurers have become concerned about the high costs and ineffective results of repeat detox admissions. For other diseases, health systems increasingly target high-risk, high-cost patients with individually tailored interventions delivered by `navigators' who help patients negotiate the complex health care system. Patient incentives are another increasingly common intervention. AIMS OF THE STUDY: (i) To examine how health care spending was affected by an intervention intended to improve entry to SUD treatment among clients who had multiple detox admissions. (ii) To see whether spending effects, overall and by type of service, differed by intervention arm. (iii) To assess whether the intervention resulted in net savings from the payer perspective, after subtracting implementation costs. METHODS: The intervention was implemented in a segment of the Massachusetts Medicaid population, and used Recovery Support Navigators (RSNs) who were trained to effectively engage and connect clients with SUD to follow-up care and community resources. Services were funded using a flat daily rate per client. Additionally, in one of the two intervention arms, clients were offered successive incentive payments for meeting pre-specified milestones to reinforce recovery-oriented behaviors. For this paper, multivariate analyses of claims and administrative data were used to measure the intervention's effect on health care spending, and to estimate net savings to the payer. RESULTS: Health care spending grew 1.6 percentage points more slowly for intervention-enrolled members than for others, implying gross savings of $68 per member per month. After subtracting intervention-related costs, net savings were estimated at $57 per member per month. The intervention was also associated with shifts in the health care service mix from more to less acute settings. DISCUSSION: While the results for total spending did not reach statistical significance, they suggest some potential for insurers to reduce the health care costs associated with repeat detox utilization by using a navigator-based intervention. Analyses reported elsewhere found that this intervention had favorable effects on rates of initiation of SUD treatment. Limitations of the study include the fact that neither subjects nor sites were randomized between study groups; lack of data on crime or productivity outcomes; low participant use of RSN services; and a policy change which altered the participant pool and truncated follow-up for some. IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH CARE PROVISION AND USE: These results suggest some potential for payers to reduce the health care costs associated with repeat detox by using a navigator-based intervention. To the extent that this results in shifting resources from repeat detox to actual treatment, the result should provide longer term benefit to the population coping with SUD. IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH POLICY: These results may encourage Medicaid and other payers to further experiment with similar interventions using navigators to decrease health care costs and improved the lives of SUD patients. IMPLICATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH: It could be informative to test similar navigator interventions for detox patients in other settings where enrollment periods are longer.