Patient Navigation: Breaking the Barriers of Care While Empowering Patients to Fight Cancer

Purpose Through the Union for International Cancer Control and Pfizer Oncology SPARC MBC grant, Project PINK BLUE–Health & Psychological Trust Centre implemented the Breast Cancer Navigation and Palliative Program with strategic activities focused on metastatic breast cancer with the goal of “empower[ing] women at risk of, or living with advanced breast cancer and to reduce [the] incidence of stage III or IV breast cancer.” The project established Nigeria's first patient navigation program, which trained 138 health workers and social workers across the six area councils of Abuja and connected 116 breast health facilities, 58 in Abuja and another 58 across Nigeria—diagnostic centers and hospitals—in a Web-based navigation map application. The program was designed to train only 18 patient navigators for Abuja only; however, we trained 44 patient navigators from National Hospital Abuja, Enugu, and Kebbi states who are currently working on establishing Breast Cancer Navigation and Palliative Programs in their respective states. Trained oncology nurse navigators are providing optimum palliative care and navigation to patients across the mapped health facilities in Abuja. Whereas 72 institutions have been engaged through diverse partnerships, 27 resources were produced, including videos, documents, and a palliative/navigation book for health care workers. Ten ECHO palliative care trainings were organized for nurses and pain doctors, with an additional eight in-person workshops on palliative care and patient navigation and five patient support group meetings. Seventy-two news articles were published, including for TV, radio, and in interviews.Methods The program used training of nurses, cancer survivors and nurses to become patient navigators at National Hospital Abuja and across the six area councils of Abuja. Currently, navigators in Niger State and Enugu state have also received training on patient navigation, and more patients with cancer have been tracked and observed during their cancer journeys in Nigeria.Results The program has transited to lead national advocacy at Nigeria’s parliament for the establishment of the National Institute on Cancer Research and Treatment and has also establish such initiatives as Abuja’s first cancer support group and patient-led advocacy and campaign. Several patients with metastatic breast cancer were navigated through their journey with cancer.Conclusion Patients with metastatic breast cancer need more support to live a quality life; more than just pain medication. They need someone to listen to them and caregivers who show their care and love. Patient navigation is an emerging area of oncology and there is a need to support the patient navigators so that they may devote more time to its effects.AUTHOR’S DISCLOSURES OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST The following represents disclosure information provided by authors of this manuscript. All relationships are considered compensated. Relationships are self-held unless noted. I = Immediate Family Member, Inst = My Institution. Relationships may not relate to the subject matter of this manuscript. For more information about ASCO's conflict of interest policy, please refer to www.asco.org/rwc or ascopubs.org/jco/site/ifc . Runcie C.W. Chidebe Travel, Accommodations, Expenses: Jansen and Jansen Consulting or Advisory Role: Novartis Pharmaceuticals