title: An exploration of the patient navigator role: perspectives of younger women with breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To delineate the role of the oncology patient navigator, drawing from the experiences and descriptions of younger women with breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interpretive, descriptive, qualitative research design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants' homes, researcher's home, and via telephone, all in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  12 women aged 50 years or younger who were diagnosed with breast cancer within the last three years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Face-to-face semistructured interviews explored patient experiences with the cancer care system, including problems encountered, unmet needs, and opinions about the functions of the patient navigator role. The audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and data were broken down and inductively coded into four categories. Constant comparative techniques also were used during analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The role of the oncology patient navigator included two facets: "Processual facets," with the subthemes assigned to me at diagnosis, managing the connection, mapping the process, practical support, and quarterbacking my entire journey; and "Personal qualities: The essentials," with the subthemes empathetic care tenor, knowing the cancer system, and understanding the medical side of breast cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the tremendous effort directed toward enhancing care for younger women undergoing treatment for breast cancer, gaps continue to exist. Younger women with breast cancer require a care approach providing ongoing dialogue, teaching, and emotional support from the point of diagnosis through treatment, including transitions of care within the oncology setting and back to their primary care practitioner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oncology nurse navigators are well positioned to provide patients with anticipatory guidance from diagnosis to the end of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Palliative Care Program.
authors.forename: Allison E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, University of Manitoba.
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Hack
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, University of Manitoba.
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: McClement
authors.affiliation: CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Taylor-Brown
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008350:Manitoba; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D062526:Patient Navigation; D010358:Patient Participation; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012380:Role; D012944:Social Support; D012947:Social Work; D035501:Uncertainty; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: breast cancer; nurse navigator; patient navigation; patient navigator; supportive care