The experience of people with lung cancer with a volunteer-based lay navigation intervention at an outpatient cancer center.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the experiences of patients with lung cancer with a volunteer-based lay navigation intervention. METHODS: Forty patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer enrolled in a three-step navigation intervention delivered by trained volunteer lay navigators (VLNs), beginning prior to their first oncologist's appointment and ending before the start of treatment. Methodological triangulation of data was used in a mixed method study design. Cases were categorized based on the predominant needs met by the VLN: emotional, practical/informational, family, and complex. Data were analyzed using framework analysis. RESULTS: The provision of emotional support, information, and referrals to other services by the VLN were of particular benefit to the patient and their families. Satisfaction with the program and its timing was high; it was considered an effective means for patients to share concerns and have their needs attended to before starting treatment. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates capacity for lay volunteers to address the multifaceted needs of lung cancer patients during their transition from primary care in the diagnosis to treatment phase. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Using volunteers as navigators offers an opportunity to meet patient needs with minimal resources, increase access to services for patients, and improve the sustainability of the program.

The development and implementation of a volunteer lay navigation competency framework at an outpatient cancer center.

PURPOSE: To describe the development and delivery of a competency framework designed to guide the recruitment, training, and competency screening of volunteer lay navigators at an outpatient cancer centre in Victoria, BC. METHODS: Volunteers that passed a screening interview underwent 22 h of training focusing on the scope of the navigator's role, communication skills, and cancer center processes and resources. Volunteers that passed a post-training interview, by demonstrating a basic level of competency in three domains (Self as Navigator, Communication, and Knowledge/Information), were invited to participate as volunteer lay navigators in a three-step intervention with newly diagnosed lung cancer patients at the British Columbia Cancer Agency-Vancouver Island Centre. RESULTS: Of the 27 volunteers who attended a screening interview, 20 were invited to participate in training. From the subset of 20, 13 of these participants achieved competency scores high enough to qualify them to practice as volunteer lay navigators. CONCLUSIONS: By incorporating the lessons we have learned from this study, we believe that the lay navigation competency framework serves as a useful model for selecting, training, and supporting competent navigators.