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Participants' barriers to diagnostic resolution and factors associated with needing patient navigation
Author(s) -
KrokSchoen Jessica L.,
Brewer Brittany M.,
Young Gregory S.,
Weier Rory C.,
Tatum Cathy M.,
DeGraffinreid Cecilia R.,
Paskett Electra D.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.29414
Subject(s) - medicine , psychosocial , odds ratio , family medicine , confidence interval , accreditation , logistic regression , health care , odds , institutional review board , multivariate analysis , psychiatry , pathology , medical education , economics , economic growth
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. Cancer 2015;121:2757‐2764. © 2015 American Cancer Society