Quality of life outcomes from a randomized controlled trial of patient navigation in Latina breast cancer survivors
Breast cancer survivorship is a life‐long process that involves ongoing challenges to individuals and health‐care communities alike, particularly in the Latina population. This randomised controlled trial compared the effects of an enhanced Patient Navigation program (PN+) vs a standard Patient Navigation program (PN) on general cancer and breast cancer‐specific quality of life (QoL) in Latina breast cancer survivors. Patient Navigators included a multidisciplinary team of community health workers and healthcare professionals oriented to patient advocacy. They played a key role in guiding participants through any barriers they encountered such as transportation, housing, education, and access to insured health care, as well as providing social and emotional support. PN+ participants received culturally tailored educational materials and active, personalized Patient Navigation services. PN participants were only navigated upon request. PN participants’ scores in all QoL domains decreased between baseline and 6 months, while PN+ participants’ scores improved. This study hoped to shift the paradigm toward not only curing cancer, but also to achieve improved QoL in survivorship. The results indicate that significant QoL improvement can be seen with primary care delivered survivorship care.