Truth to Action: Lived Experiences of Indigenous Healthcare Professionals Redressing Indigenous-Specific Racism.

STUDY BACKGROUND: The experience of discrimination through stereotyping, profiling, and bias-informed care not only leads to poor access to healthcare services, but low retention rates of Indigenous health professionals (IHP). As health systems transformation evolves, a significant gap remains in supporting IHP to safely address racism, to be supported culturally to bring their authentic selves and voices to work, and to attend to one's own intellectual, physical, relational, cultural and spiritual wellness within a westernized model of care. PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to investigate the experiences of IHP working in mainstream healthcare in order to understand how their work environment impacts the delivery of cultural safe practices. What is reported in this manuscript, as an exercise in truth-telling, is findings about lived experiences of IHP working in one mainstream provincial healthcare region, and not the whole context and outcomes of the study. METHODS: Using Indigenous research methodologies, we embodied our Indigeneity into every facet of the research process. We facilitated three talking circles with participants grounded in a distinct cultural and ceremonial context following Secwepemc protocols. RESULTS: The collective voices of IHP revealed the following common experiences: confronting genocide; addressing Indigenous-specific racism; uprooting toxicity and inequities; and upholding Indigenous human rights while enhancing accountability of systems transformation. CONCLUSIONS: The experience of IHP working in health systems goes beyond mere individual employment obligations, its often about a families and communities advocacy for Indigenous rights, culturally safe working environments and access to dignified and respectful healthcare service. This study highlights the need for IHP to be actively involved in health system transformation to ensure the redesigning and restructuring of healthcare service delivery by and for Indigenous Peoples remains centered on Indigenous health and human rights.

Health Literacy of Healthcare Providers and Mental Health Needs of Immigrant Perinatal Women in British Columbia: A Critical Ethnography.

AIMS: This research explores how health care providers determine the mental health needs of immigrant women in the perinatal phase of childbirth. The contextual factors that affect the mental health of these women and influence their engagement with the British Columbian communities in which they reside are investigated. METHOD: Using a critical ethnographic approach, eight health care providers were interviewed to gain insight into health care provider's health literacy and immigrant perinatal women's mental health. Each participant was interviewed for 45-60 min in the period from January to February 2021 to obtain relevant data. RESULTS: Three themes emerged from the data analysis: the health care provider's role and his/her health literacy, the health literacy of the participant, and the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the participant's situation. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that a healthy working relationship between the health care provider and an immigrant woman in the perinatal phase of childbirth is essential to facilitate an effective interchange of health information.

Effectiveness of breast cancer screening interventions in improving screening rates and preventive activities in Muslim refugee and immigrant women: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To systematically assess the effectiveness of breast cancer (BC) interventions in improving breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE), mammogram screening rates, and preventive activities in Muslim refugee and immigrant women. DESIGN: Guided by the Health Belief Model, a mixed method systematic review and meta-analysis was performed using a sequential design. METHODS: This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis statement (PRISMA), the Critical Appraisal Skill Program Checklists, and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for systematic review and meta-analysis. A systematic search of English-language peer-reviewed articles was undertaken in multiple health and social sciences databases from January 1, 2015, to March 31, 2022. Randomized clinical trials and quasi-experimental studies focused on the uptake of BSE, CBE, and mammograms were selected. RESULTS: Fourteen articles were included in the review. Most of the studies relied on quasi-experimental designs and were carried out in the United States of America. The qualitative analysis of BC screening interventions generated three themes: (1) education, (2) access-focused, and (3) cultural and faith-based. The meta-analysis included three randomized control trials and two quasi-experimental studies. The meta-analysis demonstrates the effectiveness of community-led cultural and faith-based interventions in facilitating the completion of CBE and mammography screening. Education on BC and patient navigator interventions are more effectively used in conjunction than standalone interventions, yet community-based cultural and faith-based interventions are the most effective. CONCLUSION: This systematic and meta-analysis review provides evidence on the effectiveness of access-focused and cultural and faith-based interventions in improving BC screening in Muslim refugee and immigrant women. Future research should focus on designing and measuring the effectiveness of cultural and faith-based interventions to increase Muslim refugee and immigrant women's BC screening knowledge and practices. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This systematic and meta-analysis review demonstrates the need to explore Muslim refugee and immigrant women's cultural contexts for developing culturally sensitive BC screening interventions. Knowledge and practice of BC and religiosity intersect with financial, geographic, and linguistic barriers to decrease participation in screening and preventive activities in Muslim refugee and immigrant women.

Diet Adherence among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Concept Analysis.

Objectives: To analyze the concept of diet adherence and its components in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: The Walker and Avant (2011) method of concept analysis was used. Scientific databases were queried for research articles in the English language published during 2010-2020 using the search terms: compliance, adherence, treatment adherence, diet adherence, T2DM, and concept analysis. The tools that measure diet adherence and its attributes were identified and evaluated. Results: The concept of diet adherence implies the process of following a diet plan by means of self-monitoring, maintaining, and preventing relapses. Diet adherence is facilitated by antecedents which comprise motivation, understanding the dietary recommendations, developing appropriate health beliefs, self-efficacy, setting achievable goals, and receiving social support. Successful diet adherence brings consequences in health as reflected in improved T2DM-specific clinical parameters and enhanced health-related quality of life. Conclusions: Patients with T2DM often have poor diet adherence due to failure to understand, implement, and maintain the required antecedents, such as motivation, understanding, health beliefs, self-efficacy, practical goals, and social support. Healthcare providers need to ensure that the patients understand the concept of diet adherence and implement it in their daily lives. Further research is needed into diet adherence and its components to evolve more effective measures to be communicated to T2DM patients.

Exploring Foot Care Conditions for People Experiencing Homelessness: A Community Participatory Approach.

INTRODUCTION: People experiencing homelessness are faced with complex challenges and are at high risk of illness due to inequities and disparities in access to health care services. OBJECTIVE: To explore the health and foot care problems related to people experiencing homelessness in British Columbia. METHODS: A community participatory research approach was used with a sample of 65 people experiencing homelessness. Data were collected using a survey questionnaire and face-to-face semistructured interviews. RESULTS: Thematic findings shows risk of foot injuries, lack of foot care resources, and absence of family support. Barriers to equitable access to services for most participants experiencing homelessness were lack of housing (76.92%), inability to work (72.31%), and inability to afford the cost of living on their own (63.08%). CONCLUSIONS: There is a pressing need for early screening and detection by health care professionals and enhanced foot care services to reduce foot problems and improve foot care wellness of homeless people. Addressing foot-related care are necessary steps in promoting health, preventing illness, and improving access to health services among people experiencing homelessness.

Towards Equitable Health Care Access: Community Participatory Research Exploring Unmet Health Care Needs of Homeless Individuals.

Community and health services often overlook health care needs of persons experiencing homelessness, which leads to deterioration in health and increased utilization of emergency services. Since homeless people are underrepresented in health service research, little is known about their unmet health care needs, particularly in smaller cities where resources are limited. This community-based participatory research explored the experiences of small-city homeless service users (HSUs) with unmet health care needs and community service providers (CSPs) who work with them to determine barriers to health care access affecting them. Structured interviews were conducted with 65 HSUs and 15 CSPs in interior British Columbia, Canada. These interviews were audio-recorded, and the retrieved data were analyzed thematically. The three themes uncovered included: a lack of access to health care and risk of stigma, a lack of trust and fear of discrimination, and a need for community navigation and social support. The findings indicate that HSUs do not receive equitable care and face challenges in accessing appropriate and timely foot care, which contributes to increased foot-related emergency visits, loss of trust in the health care system, and disabilities due to worsening foot conditions. Various social determinants of health also impact HSUs, such as low socioeconomic status, lack of housing, decreased social support, unhealthy behaviors, and inequitable access to health services. By collaborating with HSUs, community and health services need to develop innovative outreach programs that provide better community resources as the first step toward equitable access to health care.

Kidney Disease-Specific Quality of Life among Patients on Hemodialysis.

INTRODUCTION: Quality of life (QoL) of hemodialysis patients can be examined in two aspects: kidney-specific quality of life and general quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To determine the QoL among patients undergoing hemodialysis, to assess patients' QoL on hemodialysis, and to determine the factors associated with QoL among hemodialysis patients in Oman. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 205 patients to measure the QoL across various demographic and clinical variables in Oman. The Arabic version of the KDQOL-SFtool was used to collect data from patients undergoing hemodialysis to give QoL quantitative measures. RESULTS: The physical-QoL was 45.7 (95% CI, 44.3, 47.0), which is less than half that of a healthy human. The emotional-QoL is 53.33 (95% CI, 51.1, 55.5), slightly more than half in a healthy human-QoL. The difference between physical and emotional-QoL scores is -7.66 (95% CI, -10.3, -5.1), showing that physical QoL is significantly less than emotional-QoL. The overall general QoL score was 49.5 (95% CI, 47.8, 51.2), half the QoL score of a healthy human. Younger patients are also more likely to experience emotional problems compared with older patients. Patients with 5-8 mg/l levels of serum creatinine have lower emotional wellbeing. People on low incomes experienced social difficulties, while the maximum burden was found in physical activities and minimum social function. CONCLUSION: Both physical (45.7) and emotional (53.3) QoL scores in dialysis patients are nearly half those of an average human. Hence, there is a poor QoL among dialysis patients like other studies, and therefore, further improvement of renal rehabilitation in dialysis patients is warranted to improve patients' QoL.

Development of a foot care model to determine the risk of foot problems among homeless adults in Canada.

Foot care is a common problem for homeless adults in cities, who often receive fragmented foot care services, resulting in increased foot problems, health complications, hospitalisation, limb removal and disabilities. Among the health factors that negatively affect the homeless, foot health is essential, but often neglected. This study employed a descriptive, cross-sectional research design to assess the foot care of homeless people and develop recommendations for clinical practice. Using Inlow's 60-s foot screening method, the foot conditions of a purposive sample of 65 homeless adults were examined in British Columbia, Canada, in 2019-2020. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. Determinants, such as sex and years of homelessness significantly contributed to homeless individuals' risk of developing foot problems. Differences in perceived and observed foot problems were influenced by equitable access to social health and healthcare services. Foot assessment is not well-covered by homeless health services and should be implemented as part of the standard medical review of homeless patients. Furthermore, foot assessment should be conducted by healthcare professionals, rather than relying on the standard practice of service users' self-report. Finally, foot care should be based on tailoring assessments and interventions for the individualised needs of homeless service users. Future research must seek ways to integrate homeless individuals' voices in the development, implementation and evaluation of foot care services.

Capability beliefs and the intention to adopt evidence-based practices in the future among nursing students: An international study.

BACKGROUND: Capability beliefs and the intention to adopt EBP in future nursing practice have been identified as strong antecedents of subsequent utilization of EBP. Despite this, a multicountry comparison may yield interesting findings that can be useful in designing empirically based and culturally tailored strategies to facilitate and enhance students' capability beliefs as well as their intentions to integrate evidence into nursing practice. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This report sought to compare capability beliefs and intentions to adopt EBP in the future among student nurses from four countries-specifically, Oman, India, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia-and to identify specific variables that predict the intention to adopt EBP. METHODS: This study employed a descriptive, cross-sectional, comparative research design to gather data from a convenience sample of 1387 nursing students from four countries using self-report questionnaires that captured their EBP capability beliefs and their intention to adopt EBP in clinical practice upon graduation. This study adhered to STROBE guideline for cross-sectional studies. RESULTS: Overall, nursing students reported a high intent to adopt EBP in their future nursing practice; however, the exact rate varied according to the country of origin. Students' gender, student track, education, country of origin, access to the internet, and capability beliefs were seen as important in explaining the likelihood of future implementation of evidence in clinical nursing practice. Capability beliefs among students were moderate, with large differences observed between countries. CONCLUSIONS: Although the surveyed nursing students reported moderate capability beliefs, their intention to adopt and integrate EBP in their future nursing practice was relatively high. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The findings of this study highlight the critical role of nurse educators and nurse administrators in fostering EBP capability beliefs and future intentions to adopt among students through curricular review, implementation of evidence-based strategies, and the promotion of EBP culture within the clinical learning sites.

Predictors of postpartum depression and the utilization of postpartum depression services in rural areas in the Philippines.

PURPOSE: This study explored the prevalence and predictors of postpartum depression (PPD) as well as the utilization and evaluation of PPD services among postpartum women in rural areas of the Philippines. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted. One hundred sixty-five women who visited maternal facilities in the rural areas of the Central Philippines completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). FINDINGS: The prevalence of PPD was 16.4% at the sixth postpartum week. Occupation and marital status had significant direct influences on PPD. PPD services were not routinely provided by doctors and nurses. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Our results highlight a greater need to intensify government programs relative to PPD services, specifically related to the early detection and screening of PPD among high-risk pregnancies.

Nursing faculty teaching characteristics as perceived by nursing students: an integrative review.

AIMS: Nursing faculty members play a pivotal role in the achievement of nursing students' learning outcomes. A broader understanding of what constitutes effective teaching is essential in order to ensure that effective learning takes place in the clinical area. This review sought to identify the most and least effective nursing faculty characteristics as perceived by nursing students. METHODS: An integrative review of the literature was undertaken. Studies were sourced from the following electronic databases: PsycINFO, PubMed Central, CINAHL, Medline and Scopus. An electronic search of relevant studies published between 2001 and 2017 was conducted using the following search terms: 'nursing', 'students', 'nurse faculty', 'nurse tutor', 'nurse educator', 'effective', 'clinical education', 'effectiveness', 'clinical instructor', 'nurse instructor', 'teaching behaviour', and 'teaching characteristics'. FINDINGS: Twenty-nine articles met the inclusion criteria. This review revealed that nursing students value nursing faculty's competence and interpersonal skills over their personality traits. Furthermore, the review highlighted that there exists a lack of studies that examine individual factors, which may influence nursing students' choice of teaching behaviours. Future studies linking teaching behaviours and nursing student learning outcomes are recommended. CONCLUSION: Nursing faculty must strive to improve their professional competence and interpersonal skills in order to better provide quality education to nursing students.

A Multicountry Study on Nursing Students' Self-Perceived Competence and Barriers to Evidence-Based Practice.

BACKGROUND: Nursing education and training are essential in the attainment of evidence-based practice (EBP) competence in nursing students. Although there is a growing literature on EBP among nursing students, most of these studies are confined to a single cultural group. Thus, cross-cultural studies may provide shared global perspectives and theoretical understandings for the advancement of knowledge in this critical area. AIMS: This study compared self-perceived EBP competence among nursing students in four selected countries (India, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and Oman) as well as perceived barriers to EBP adoption. METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional, and comparative survey of 1,383 nursing students from India, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and Oman participated in the study. The Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire (EBP-COQ) and the BARRIERS scale were used to collect data during the months of January 2016 to August 2017. RESULTS: Cross-country comparisons revealed significant differences in EBP competence (F = 24.437, p < .001), knowledge (F = 3.621, p = .013), skills (F = 9.527, p < .001), and attitudes (F = 74.412, p < .001) among nursing students. Three variables including nursing students' gender (ß = .301, p < .001), type of institution, (ß = -0.339, p = .001), and type of nursing student (ß = .321, p < .001) were associated with EBP competence. Barriers to EBP adoption included having no authority to change patient care policies (M = 1.65, SD = 1.05), slow publication of evidence (M = 1.59, SD = 1.01), and paucity of time in the clinical area to implement the evidence (M = 1.59, SD = 1.05). LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Both academe and hospital administration can play a pivotal role in the successful acquisition of EBP competence in nursing students.

Predictors of evidence-based practice knowledge, skills, and attitudes among nursing students.

PROBLEM: Evidence-based practice (EBP) competence is one of the most desirable outcomes in nursing education. Assessment of knowledge, skills, and attitudes of nursing students regarding EBP is vital in examining the extent to which current approaches to EBP teaching is effective. PURPOSE: This study examined the predictors of knowledge, skills, and attitudes regarding EBP among Omani nursing students. METHODS: This study utilized a descriptive, cross-sectional approach. Two hundred and forty-eight nursing students enrolled in one of the universities in Oman participated in the study during the months of May 2016 to August 2017. The evidence-based practice questionnaire (EBP-COQ) was used for data collection. Descriptive and inferential statistical tools were used to analyze the data. FINDINGS: The mean values for the three EBP domains (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) were 3.41 (SD = 0.66), 3.62 (SD = 0.51), and 3.41 (SD = 0.68), respectively. Nursing students' sex (being female), classification (being a registered nurse to Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing nursing student), and access to the internet and to nursing journals strongly predicted the knowledge, skills, and attitudes regarding EBP. Overall, 79.0% of Omani nursing students intended to adopt EBP in the future. CONCLUSIONS: Omani nursing students possessed moderate knowledge, skills, and attitudes on EBP; however, more efforts are needed to ensure that future Omani nurses are competent and confident to apply EBP in the actual clinical area. Both academe and the hospital administration play a pivotal role in the acquisition and achievement of EBP competence in student nurses.

Perceptions of risk of coronary heart disease among people living with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: Our aim is to assess perception of risk of developing coronary heart disease and to examine its associations with individuals' characteristics and health behaviours among Omani people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). BACKGROUND: Evaluating perceptions of being at risk of developing a disease may give insight into health promotion behaviours. People with diabetes are at high risk of coronary heart disease. The management of diabetes mellitus should include prevention and control of coronary heart disease. DESIGN: A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted. METHODS: A convenience sample of 160 adults with T2DM was invited to participate in this study between November 2014 and March 2015. Descriptive and regression analyses were performed to examine associations between study variables. RESULTS: Perception of risk of developing coronary heart disease was significantly associated with low educational level (ß = 0.191, P < .05), low income (ß = 0.201, P < .05), and high level of knowledge about diabetes mellitus (ß = 0.200, P < .05). People with T2DM who perceived coronary heart disease as having few moderate known outcomes and consequences reported consuming healthy diet more frequently. CONCLUSION: Teaching people with T2DM about the risk of developing coronary heart disease is essential as it could motivate them to perform health promotion behaviours, which may assist in controlling and reducing coronary heart disease.

Self-efficacy and self-care behaviours among adults with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) has an impact on an individuals' health and is influenced by glycemic control. AIM: To examine the relationship between glycemic control, demographic and clinical factors on self-efficacy and self-care behaviours among adults with T2DM. DESIGN: A correlational, descriptive study was used. One hundred and forty Omani adults with T2DM were recruited from a public hospital. METHODS: Data on self-efficacy, self-care behaviours and glycemic control were collected between April and July 2016. The study was approved by the College Ethics Committee and Hospital Board. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Most adults had a fasting blood glucose >7.2mmol/L (90.7%), with the majority demonstrating 'uncontrolled' or poor HbA1c of >8% (65%). Variance of self-care behaviour (20.6%) and 31.3% of the variance of the self-efficacy was explained by the age, duration of diabetes, medication, HbA1c and prevention of activities of living. CONCLUSIONS: Adults with T2DM with poor glycemic control were more probable to have poor self-efficacy and self-care behaviours. Glycemic control has an effect on improving diet, exercise, medication, foot care efficacy and behaviours. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The study recommends using these findings to plan self-efficacy and self-care behaviour to improve glycemic control among adults with T2DM.

Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening in Primary Care Settings: Attitudes and Knowledge of Nurses and Physicians.

OBJECTIVE: Healthcare providers (HCPs) play a critical role in reducing colorectal cancer (CRC) related morbidity and mortality. This study aimed at exploring the attitudes and knowledge of nurses and physicians working in primary care settings regarding CRC screening. METHODS: A total of 142 HCPs (57.7% nurses and 42.3% physicians) participated in a cross-sectional survey. Data were collected using a Self-administered Questionnaire. The participants were clinically experienced (mean = 9.39 years; standard deviation [SD] = 6.13), regularly taking care of adults eligible for CRC screening (62%) and had positive attitudes toward CRC screening (83.1%). Most participants (57%) had low levels of knowledge about CRC screening (mean = 3.23; SD = 1.50). The participants were most knowledgeable about the recommended age for initiating screening (62.7%) and the procedures not recommended for screening (90.8%). RESULTS: More than 55% did not know the frequency of performing specific screening procedures, the upper age limit at which screening is not recommended, and the patients at high-risk for CRC. There were no significant differences between nurses' and physicians' attitudes and knowledge. The participants' perceptions about professional training (odds ratio [OR] = 2.17, P = 0.003), colonoscopy (OR = 2.60, P = 0.014), and double-contrast barium enema (OR = 0.53, P = 0.041), were significantly associated with knowledge about CRC screening. CONCLUSIONS: The inadequate knowledge levels among nurses and physicians may be one of the barriers affecting CRC screening. Enhancing HCPs knowledge about CRC screening should be considered a primary intervention in the efforts to promote CRC screening and prevention.

Foot care behaviors among adults with type 2 diabetes.

AIM: The aim of the study was to determine factors influencing foot care behaviors among adults with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: A correlational descriptive study was conducted with a random sample of 160 adults with type 2 diabetes from the public hospital between April and July 2014. RESULTS: Just over 15% of the sample had a history of foot ulcers and almost 42% had numbness/tingling and pain in their feet. Positive foot care behaviors were correlated with higher income, higher educational attainment, lower body weight, positive attitude and higher awareness of diabetes and its management. CONCLUSION: Targeting type 2 diabetes people with low level of education, low income and overweight may help to enhance their foot care and reduce foot complications in similar populations, Implications. Those most at risk of foot problems should be targeted for education to increase their awareness of ways to prevent and to manage foot problems.

An interdisciplinary approach for the management of noncarious lesions.

Miller's class III gingival recession is a common entity observed in individuals, posing a difficult situation for the clinicians to treat. Large fenestration defects with cervical abrasion compromise the esthetics resulting in poor prognosis. Obtaining predictable and esthetic root coverage has become an integral part of periodontal therapy. The present case report describes a situation where class III gingival recession with cervical abrasion was seen in the lower central incisors. The patient was successfully treated with a combination of restorations (Filtek Z350(®) composite resin) to fill the defect, followed by fenestration procedure to increase the vestibular depth and subsequently with grafting procedure (soft tissue autograft with bovine-derived xenograft collagen [Bio-oss]). Though the results were not tangible esthetically, it was functionally successful as evidenced during the follow-up period.

Direct Sinus Lift and Immediate Implant Placement Using Piezosurgical Approach- A Case Report.

Numerous studies have shown that placement of implants in the maxillary region with resultant successful osseointegration can be achieved by the use of sinus lift procedures using piezosurgical technique. In this case report a middle aged patient had come to the outpatient department of A. J. Institute of Dental Sciences with a chief complaint of missing right posterior molar. Since the radiographic ball marker showed only 4 mm bone below the sinus in #16 region, direct sinus lift procedure was done for placement of a dental implant. Piezosurgery was performed, as it reduces the risk of damaging vital soft tissues such as nerves, dura matter and blood vessels. To stabilize the implant in the maxillary sinus region and also to stimulate bone regeneration, gamma irradiated cancellous allograft was used. Periapical radiographs were taken 10 months after implant placement which showed good bone growth over the implant collar. Bone formation in the maxillary antrum was seen clearly in the panoramic radiograph. Using piezosurgical unit, sinus lift procedure with sinus grafting proved to be less traumatic and more successful.

Effectiveness of patient navigator interventions on uptake of colorectal cancer screening in primary care settings.

AIM: Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in the world and every year it is responsible for 610,000 deaths worldwide. The aim of this review was to examine the effectiveness of patient navigator interventions towards enhancing uptake of colorectal cancer screening in primary care settings. METHODS: Electronic databases such as PubMed, CINHAL, Google Scholar and SCOPUS were searched to retrieve articles reporting on primary studies applying any patient navigator intervention to promote uptake of colorectal cancer screening in eligible patients. The search yielded 292 articles and 15 met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: All 15 studies were conducted in urban settings located in the USA. The findings of the review show that patient navigator interventions can increase colorectal cancer screening rates in diverse primary care settings. Patient navigator interventions were most effective in patients who belong to minority groups and enhanced uptake of colorectal cancer screening with rates ranging 11-91%. CONCLUSION: There is a need for further studies to examine the effectiveness of patient navigator interventions in rural populations and other countries. Such studies will help us to clearly characterize the effectiveness of patient navigator interventions.