Project Title: A Patient Navigator Intervention to Improve Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Outcomes Among Hispanic Women

Abstract:

A Patient Navigator Intervention to Improve Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Outcomes Among Hispanic Women is a health intervention that seeks to improve the breast and cervical cancer treatment outcomes among Hispanic women. The investigators have extensive experience in the promotion of cancer screening out-reach services among Hispanics in Texas and other states. This project would build on those experiences by developing a theory-based, in-clinic component to assist adult female Hispanic patients as they interact with or "navigate" the many health care choices and actions that will occur as they address screening abnormalities. Using qualitative and quantitative methods and comparison, as well as treatment healthcare sites, the study will monitor and evaluate critical elements of healthcare access that occur during treatment and the first 12 months of survivorship. The period of survivorship starts at the time of diagnosis. The results will be a model of cancer care that can be replicated and disseminated in other communities where Hispanic women confront significant disparities in cancer health care delivery.

PI:

  • Amelie G. Ramirez, DrPH, Professor of Epidemiology & Biostatistics and Director, Institute for Health Promotion Research at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Co-PI's:

  • Anthony Tolcher, MD, Director of Clinical Research, Institute for Drug Development
  • Alexander Miller, MD, Director of Surgical Oncology & Cancer Prevention and Risk Assessment Clinic Director, Cancer Therapy and Research Center
  • Kipling Gallion, MA, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology & Biostatistics and Deputy Director, Institute for Health Promotion Research at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Funding Institution:

  • Pfizer Pharmaceutical Group

Funding Period:

2 years – 9/1/04-8/31/06

Location/Service Area:

2 community clinics in a large, low-income Mexican American barrio on the southwest and southeast areas of San Antonio, Texas, which are part of the Bexar County Hospital District (known as the University Health System) and are managed by the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Department of Family and Community Medicine.

Collaborators/Co-sponsors:

  • University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Department of Family and Community Medicine
  • Southeast Clinic, University Health System; Marla Stough, Clinic Manager
  • Southwest Clinic, University Health System; Cynthia Luna, Clinic Manager
  • UT Mammography Services; Cynthia Navarijio, Clinic Manager; Dr. Pam Otto, Medical Director
  • UT OB/GYN Services; Dr. Mark Funk, Medical Director

Goals:

To study the efficacy of a "patient navigator" (PN) program that uses trained community lay health workers (CLH) to assist Hispanic patients to utilize cancer care services and address health-related disparities.

Results:

The official implementation of the study began on March 1, 2006. Recruitment is still underway. To date, a total of 67 ladies have been recruited to participate in the study thus far. The recruitment goal is to enroll 58 ladies in the intervention group and 58 in the control group, totaling 116 ladies for the study.

Potential Impact:

The proposed breast and cervical cancer patient navigator program represents a new area of research that is being actively promoted by the National Cancer Institute and Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. It also complements Pfizer's concept of a foundation of care that is anchored by research and identifies barriers to care which, in turn, lead to the development of client and health services interventions, culminating in improvement of outcomes (such as access to care and treatment) and a reduction in health disparities.

Publications:

None to report.