Abstract 2430: Assessing patient navigation and support services at FQHCs

Abstract

Cancer is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality for Latinx followed by African Americans (CDC, 2017). Screening can increase the rate of early detection and treatment success. However, the rates of compliance for screening are typically lower among Latinx, which may contribute to decreased diagnosis and increased risk of disease in comparison to their Euro-American counterparts (ACS, 2015). Access to screening services and ability to pay are among the commonly cited barriers for screening compliance. The IDPH recommends incorporating patient navigator (PN) models in community health clinics and communitywide events to increase health literacy, knowledge, and delivery, and quality of care including compliance with screening methods. The University of Illinois (UI) Cancer Center (UICC) works in partnership with the UI Health Mile Square Health Center (MSHC) to implement a bilingual, bicultural PN model for conducting comprehensive cancer prevention and screening services among Latinx, African Americans, and underserved communities in Chicago. A mixed methods approach was used to evaluate the patients’ perceptions and experiences with patient navigator encounters and support services. The authors conducted a semi-structured interviews and abstracted data from patient records. Provider interviews were conducted to understand provider knowledge and attitudes of navigator services. Navigator interviews captured benefits and challenges of incorporating navigation services at the clinics. Data were entered in REDCap and analyzed using Dedoose v. 8.0.42. This paper validates the implementation of PN models at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) as an asset to patients and providers in facilitating health education, increasing patient screening compliance, and improving access to health care services. Comprehensive cancer screening maximizes resources and improves the quality of life and health outcomes of underserved Latinx and African American patients who are navigated to services. PN-provider partnerships are introduced as a hallmark of the program’s success in identifying at-risk patients and navigating them to appropriate and timely medical screening, diagnostic, and treatment services. Future directions for incorporating and evaluating culturally responsive, bilingual, bicultural PN models at FQHCs, community clinics, and school based clinics are shared to inform public policy for rapid cycle monitoring of protective health cancer interventions and early detection services for Latinx and African American patients in Chicago. Citation Format: Lisa Aponte-Soto. Assessing patient navigation and support services at FQHCs [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2430.