Patient navigation: fighting for the rights of breast cancer patients in Brazil

Introduction: The content of this article deals with the experience of the navigation program for patients in a breast cancer diagnosis center of the State Health Department of Rio de Janeiro. The objective was to show how the patient navigation program can allow the proper application of the 60-day Law, being a topic of interest for the planning and evaluation of actions to control this cancer in Brazil. Methodology: The patient navigator accompanied women from the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde ­ SUS) with a diagnosis of breast cancer to start treatment at a specialized center within 60 days. Information on the clinical characteristics of the patients, clinical dates and barriers encountered were collected. Univariate logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with starting treatment within 60 days. Results: From January to July 2020, 301 breast biopsies were performed, 126 (42%) of breast cancer. The mean age was 54 years (26­88). 75% of the lesions were diagnosed in advanced stages (IIB to IV). The mean time to start treatment was 39 days (11­108). The main barriers found were: fear (93%), difficulty in communicating with the medical team (81%), uncoordinated health care (37%). Being treated outside the city of Rio de Janeiro (RJ) was the main factor associated with treatment within 60 days (79.5% vs. 20.5%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The integration of the patient browser into work processes contributed to compliance with the 60-day Law in 86% of cases. In the context of a complex and fragmented healthcare system for a population in a situation of socioeconomic vulnerability, the patient navigation program proves to be a tool to increase the rate of law enforcement in Brazil.

The implementation of patient navigation to improve mammography coverage and access to breast cancer care in Rio de Janeiro / Trazendo a navegação de pacientes para melhorar a cobertura mamográfica e o acesso aos cuidados de câncer de mama no Rio de Janeiro

This study evaluates the Patient Navigation Program (Programa de Navegação do Paciente - PNP), which was introduced to a community in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro. The objectives were: to establish the viability of the PNP in this context; identify barriers to mammogram screening; and ensure mammogram coverage for 70% of women recruited between 50 and 69 years old. From March to September 2018, 678 women with an average age of 58 years old were recruited from the Andaraí community. Follow-up was performed through the patient browser (PB), by telephone, email and text messages. Twelve percent of women refused to participate in the PNP for cultural reasons. The main barriers reported by women were: systematic problems with health care programming (100%), financial problems (64%), concerns about communicating with medical staff (58%), fear (44%), and social support (14%). The PNP obtained 100% satisfaction, and the mammogram coverage rate goal was exceeded, reaching 88%. The PN promoted an increase in the rate for mammogram coverage, aided in the transmission of quality information, reduced individuals' fear of mammography, and facilitated access to breast health care.

Este estudo avalia a introdução do Programa de Navegação do Paciente (PNP) em uma comunidade do município do Rio de Janeiro. Os objetivos são: estabelecer a viabilidade do PNP nesse contexto; identificar as barreiras ao rastreamento mamográfico; e assegurar cobertura mamográfica de 70% das mulheres recrutadas entre 50 e 69 anos. De março a setembro de 2018, foram recrutadas 678 mulheres com idade média de 58 anos da comunidade do Andaraí. O acompanhamento foi realizado pelo navegador de pacientes (NP) por telefone, e-mail e mensagens de texto. Doze por cento das mulheres recusaram-se a participar do PNP por razões culturais. As principais barreiras relatadas pelas mulheres foram: problemas do sistema com programação de cuidados de saúde (100%), problemas financeiros (64%), preocupações relacionadas à comunicação com a equipe médica (58%), medo (44%) e apoio social (14%). Foram obtidos 100% de satisfação com o PNP, e a meta de taxa de cobertura mamográfica foi superada, atingindo o percentual de 88%. O NP promoveu aumento na taxa de cobertura mamográfica, auxiliou na transmissão de informações de qualidade, reduziu o medo da mamografia e facilitou o acesso aos cuidados de saúde da mama.