BACKGROUND: Patient navigators are trained to provide support and guidance to patients throughout the cancer care continuum. They help "navigate" through the maze of doctors' clinics, outpatient centers, insurance and payment systems, patient-support organizations, and other components of the health care system. Yet there is no existing patient satisfaction tool to assess the patient navigation program in the Philippines for pediatric cancer. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate satisfaction with the patient navigation program using a validated Satisfaction with Interpersonal Relationship with Navigator (SN-I-Ph) Measure among Filipino caregivers in a tertiary referral center for childhood cancer. METHODOLOGY: The tool was first translated for cultural appropriateness, translated, and back translated into Filipino; the content validity and internal consistency were tested. Caregivers of Filipino children with cancer were recruited to answer the survey and the results analyzed. OUTCOME: Content validity for all 9 items was acceptable with scores of 4.5-5 and internal consistency showed satisfactory results with cronbach alpha of 0.9067. A total of 202 participants were recruited to join the survey. Results showed mean±SD of 42.6±7.8. All the 9 items showed excellent satisfaction. CONCLUSION: This study showed good satisfaction with the interpersonal relationship of the navigators among caregivers. Participants enrolled in the patient navigation program reported a positive overall experience with the medical care. RECOMMENDATIONS The tool is recommended for use among hospitals with the patient navigation program to assess satisfaction of the caregivers. Further studies can assess caregiver’s satisfaction as to logistic aspects as well as how to measure benefits and outcomes with the program.
Patient Navigation

Background: Colorectal cancer is highly preventable through early screening, but disparities in screening create a negative impact on the lives of those at risk. One approach to address this is patient navigation. This systematic review and meta-analysis therefore aimed to provide evidence of the effectiveness of patient navigation in increasing colorectal cancer screening uptake. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of patient navigation on colorectal cancer screening uptake. Specifically, it aimed to study the effects of different methods of navigation on the uptake of initial screening tests among persons with average risk. Methods: The studies included were randomized clinical trials conducted within 2011-2021 and involving only humans as participants. Data were analyzed by calculating the risk ratio and 95% confidence intervals of each successful outcome, and the investigators independently appraised each study’s risk of bias. Subgroup analysis was conducted to assess consistency of study effects. Certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE standard. Results: Eleven (11) studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. All studies encompassed health systems of different countries, and they utilized different means of navigation to achieve outcome measure of colorectal cancer screening uptake. Results show a statistically significant increase in screening uptake with patient navigation in a forest plot. However, there is a high level of heterogeneity among the studies, hence a subgroup analysis was conducted among these studies according to navigation method. Conclusion This systematic review and meta-analysis show an increase in screening rates in those who were navigated. Results in favor of patient navigation was consistent when all studies were analyzed together and when they were analyzed according to navigation method. Increase in screening uptake is more statistically significant among patients navigated via face-to-face and via phone call, but data is more consistent for patient navigation via phone call alone.
Colorectal Neoplasms ; Patient Navigation

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the effects of a mobile navigation program on uncertainty, resilience, and growth through uncertainty in colorectal cancer patients. METHODS: To verify the effectiveness of the mobile navigation program, 61 participants diagnosed with colorectal cancer undergoing surgery were selected. A nonequivalent control group nonsynchronized design was used to evaluate the program. Uncertainty was measured using the Korean version of the Uncertainty in Illness Scale, resilience was measured using the Korean version of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and growth through uncertainty was measured using the Growth through Uncertainty Scale. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, patients in the mobile navigation program group showed significant differences in scores for uncertainty (F=7.22, p=.009) and resilience (F=4.31, p=.042), but not for growth through uncertainty (F=2.76, p=.102). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the mobile navigation program has positive effects on decreasing uncertainty and increasing resilience among colorectal cancer patients. The mobile navigation program could play a significant role in assisting colorectal cancer patients in regard to the continuity and usability of the program.
Colorectal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Mobile Applications ; Patient Navigation ; Uncertainty