Participants' barriers to diagnostic resolution and factors associated with needing patient navigation.
BACKGROUND
Patient navigation (PN) may improve cancer care by identifying and removing patient-reported barriers to care. In 2012, the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) announced that health care facilities seeking CoC accreditation must have PN processes in place by January 1, 2015. Given these unfunded mandates, hospitals are looking for cost-effective ways to implement PN. This study examined demographic and psychosocial predictors of barriers to diagnostic resolution among individuals with a cancer screening abnormality enrolled in the Ohio Patient Navigation Research Project.


METHODS
Data were obtained from patients who received care at 1 of 9 Ohio Patient Navigation Research Project intervention clinics. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used.


RESULTS
There were 424 participants, and 151 (35.6%) reported a barrier to diagnostic resolution within 90 days of study consent. The most commonly reported barriers were misconceptions about a test or treatment (16.4%), difficulty in communicating with the provider (15.0%), and scheduling problems (11.5%). Univariate analyses indicated that race, education, employment, income, insurance, clinic type, friend support, and physical and psychological functioning were significantly associated with reporting a barrier to diagnostic resolution. Multivariate analyses found that comorbidities (odds ratio, 1.65; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-2.61) and higher intrusive thoughts and feelings (odds ratio, 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-1.41) were significantly associated with reporting a barrier to diagnostic resolution.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that demographic and psychosocial factors are associated with barriers to diagnostic resolution. To ensure compliance with the CoC mandate and provide timely care to all patients, CoC-accredited facilities can systematically identify the patients most likely to have barriers to care and assign them to PN.
Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
Jessica L
JL
Krok-Schoen
Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
Brittany M
BM
Brewer
Center for Biostatistics, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
Gregory S
GS
Young
Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
Rory C
RC
Weier
Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
Cathy M
CM
Tatum
Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
Cecilia R
CR
DeGraffinreid
Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.|Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.|Division of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
Electra D
ED
Paskett
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D062526:Patient Navigation
accreditation; barriers; continuity of patient care; diagnostic resolution; patient navigation