title: Effect of patient navigation on satisfaction with cancer-related care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite growing popularity of patient navigation (PN) as a means to improve cancer care quality and reduce cancer-related disparities, there are few well-designed controlled trials assessing the impact of PN on patient outcomes like satisfaction with care. The present controlled study examined effect of PN on satisfaction with cancer-related care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who presented with a symptom or abnormal screening test (n = 1788) or definitive diagnosis (n = 445) of breast, cervical, colorectal, or prostate cancer from eight Patient Navigator Research Program sites were included in one of two groups: intervention (PN) or comparison (usual care or usual care plus cancer educational materials). Trained patient navigators met with intervention group participants to help them assess and identify resources to address barriers to cancer diagnostic or treatment care. Using a validated instrument, we assessed participants' satisfaction with their cancer diagnostic or treatment care up to 3 months after diagnostic resolution of a cancer-related abnormality or within 3 months of initiation of cancer treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, patients reported high satisfaction with diagnostic care and cancer treatment. There were no statistically significant differences between PN and control groups in satisfaction with cancer-related care (p > 0.05). Hispanic and African American participants were less likely to report high satisfaction with cancer care when compared to White patients. Middle-aged participants with higher education, higher household income, private insurance, owning their own home, working full-time, and those whose primary language is English had higher satisfaction with cancer-related diagnostic care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PN had no statistically significant effect on patients' satisfaction with cancer-related care. Further research is needed to define the patient populations who might benefit from PN, content of PN that is most useful, and services that might enhance PN.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  clinicaltrials.gov identifiers: NCT00613275 , NCT00496678 , NCT00375024 , NCT01569672.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, San Diego State University and University of California, San Diego Moores Cancer Center, 6363 Alvarado Court, Suite 103, San Diego, CA, 92120-1863, USA. kwells@mail.sdsu.edu.
authors.forename: Kristen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine Research Programs, University of Rochester Medical Center, 1381 South Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14620, USA.
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Winters
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, 109 Haggar Hall, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jean-Pierre
authors.affiliation: Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, 2121 SW Broadway Suite 300, Portland, OR, 97201, USA.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Warren-Mears
authors.affiliation: Ohio State University, 1590 North High Street, Suite 525, Columbus, OH, 43201, USA.
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Post
authors.affiliation: National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Room 6W118, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Mary Ann S
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Van Duyn
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine Research Programs, University of Rochester Medical Center, 1381 South Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14620, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fiscella
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Policy & Administration, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1603 W. Taylor Street, Room 758, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Darnell
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, 800 Washington Street #63, Boston, MA, 02111, USA.
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Freund
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D062526:Patient Navigation / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction
keywords: Cancer-related care; Disparities; Patient navigation; Patient navigator; Patient satisfaction