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NCT Number: NCT00613275

Patient Navigation in the Safety Net:CONNECTeDD

The Boston University Medical Center, funded by the National Cancer Institutes will train health workers at six of its affiliated Community Health Centers to guide patients through the cancer care system. The project will help to teach patients how to communicate more effectively with their health care team in order to understand the treatment options available to them. Although not widely available, it is believed patient navigation programs are beneficial.

This research study will evaluate how well this tool works, especially among those who experience disparities in health care. The goal is to determine if having a trained navigator shortens the time between an abnormal test result and a definitive diagnosis and between a definitive diagnosis and completion of treatment for breast and Cervical cancer patients. The project also will evaluate whether navigation improves the ability to communicate with the doctor, satisfaction with patient's care and quality of life.

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Key information

Conditions

Breast Cancer Breast Diseases Breast Neoplasms Cervical Cancer Female Urogenital Diseases Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications Genital Diseases Genital Diseases, Female Genital Neoplasms, Female Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Skin Diseases Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases Urogenital Diseases Urogenital Neoplasms Uterine Cervical Diseases Uterine Cervical Neoplasms Uterine Diseases Uterine Neoplasms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 4

Primary location

Boston Medical Center

Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, United States

About this study

Racial and ethnic minority groups and low-income persons experience significantly higher cancer mortality rates than other Americans. These disparities are due to at least two factors: (1) delays in follow-up of abnormal cancer screening results and (2) suboptimal management of diagnosed cancer. Patient navigation represents a promising means for addressing disparities by improving cancer related management for minority and other underserved populations. However, patient navigation for cancer has yet to be evaluated through a well-designed randomized controlled trial. Furthermore, patient navigation is likely to prove most effective and sustainable when it is integrated into primary care and helps patients be more active in their care. This combination of patient empowerment and engagement is referred to as "activation." The aim of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness and costs of such a program in a rigorous manner so that the results can be generalized and the program can be widely disseminated and implemented. We will develop, implement, and evaluate a primary care-based, patient navigation-activation program using specially-trained patient Navigators who work within one of the six affiliated Community Health Centers. We propose to investigate the effect of this intervention on timing and quality of cancer-related care. Secondary aims examine the impact of navigation on disparities in care, improvement in patient activation, and total costs. Project findings will inform national policy regarding patient navigation for cancer.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Receive care at one of the 6 participating community Health centers
  • Have received a positive breast or colorectal cancer screening test requiring follow-up on a different day
  • Have been newly diagnosed with breast or colorectal cancer
  • Have received notification by the provider of an abnormal breast or colorectal screening result

Exclusion criteria

  • Cognitively impaired
  • Institutionalized (nursing home, incarcerated)
  • Children <18
  • Actively involved in cancer treatment at time of presentation
  • Currently or previously navigated with (a) navigation documented in the medical record or (b) patient can articulate that they are in a navigation program or case management program for cancer

Treatment and study plan

Patient Navigation

Other

Assigning a patient navigator to patients with abnormal breast and cervical cancer screening results at one of 6 affiliated community health centers

Primary outcomes

  1. Develop,implement and evaluate a primary care-based,patient navigation program using patient navigators in the Community Health Centers. We will investigate the effect of this intervention on timing and quality of cancer-related care

    Time frame: 4 years

Secondary outcomes

  1. Secondary aims examine the impact of navigation on disparities in care, improvement in patient activation and total costs

    Time frame: 4 years

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Boston Medical Center

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2005
Primary completion
2010
Study completion
2011
First posted
Feb 13, 2008
Registry last updated
Jun 15, 2016

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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