INTRODUCTION: Cost has become a limiting factor for indigent breast cancer patients at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). The Department of Health-Philippine Cancer Society Inc (DOH¬PCSI) Access Program for Breast Cancer Medicine provided free chemotherapy through a patient navigation system in PGH starting January 2012 to improve breast cancer treatment quality. This study looked into the differences of quality care in the non-metastatic setting among enrolled patients in the first 6 months compared to patients outside of the program from 2011-2012.
METHODS: This retrospective cohort used follow-up rates and 19 quality care indicators linked to improved outcomes to look into quality of care among patients who were enrolled (n=58) and those who were not (n=118 for 2011 and 2012). Subgroup analyses compared patients in the program and those who were not included in the same period (n=28). Another analysis compared 2011 patients (n= 90) with those in 2012 (n=86). Z¬test for the difference of proportions was done.
RESULTS: Attrition rate decreased from 62% in 2011 to 18% in 2012 (p<.0001). There was a significant improvement in 12 quality care indicators in the program (95% Cl), with the greatest differences in the initiation of treatment (58.7%) and appropriate neo-adjuvant chemotherapy administration (58.3%). Similar trends were seen in the subgroup analyses.
Conclusion. The DOH-PCSI Access Program for Breast Cancer Medicine program improved care among breast cancer patients in PGH, noted as early as within its first six months.