Abstract PO-062: An exploration of patient navigation on various outcomes of African American breast cancer survivors
Authors: Mynarska Agnieszka M. , Strayhorn Shaila M. , Hill-Muhammad Tynetta , Bergeron Nyahne Q. , Strahan Desmona C. , Jara Stephanie L. , Rayas Nancy , Rong Anita , Villegas Misael , Villines Dana , Watson Karriem S. , Khanna Aditya , Molina Yamilé 
Published: December 2020

Introduction: Patient navigation (PN) programs are used throughout the cancer continuum to address barriers faced by African American women and other vulnerable populations. Research has suggested PN can be effective in improving screening and diagnostic care uptake; however, less research has examined its effects post-diagnosis. Although effective for its short-term outcomes (e.g., receipt of screening; care decisions; stage at diagnosis), PN may be limited in its long-term effects during survivorship (e.g., quality of life). Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the effect of PN on four outcomes of African American breast cancer survivors (BCS): shared decision making (SDM) when undergoing diagnostic care; receipt of an early stage diagnosis; and, current quality of life. Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of the OASIS (Offering African American Survivors Increased Support) study, which followed African American BCS who obtained care at a Chicago-based hospital during or after the Patient Navigation in Medically Underserved Areas (PNMUA) study. Navigated women experienced largely phone- based navigation through screening, diagnostic care, and treatment. Eligibility criteria included: African American race; 18+ years old; receipt of breast healthcare in the study hospital during or after PN trial was implemented; and, receipt of a breast cancer diagnosis. We conducted multivariate logistic (SDM, early stage diagnosis) and linear regression models (quality of life measured with current mental and physical well-being using SF-12 scale) that were adjusted by age, socioeconomic status (income, education, insurance status) and year of diagnosis. Results: The average age of our sample was 66.28 (SD = 9.54). Approximately 26% of the sample had ≤ 12 years of education; 35% were married; 49% had an annual household income of ≤$50,000; and 64% had private insurance. Navigated women had greater odds of reporting shared decision making with their providers during diagnostic visits, non-nav: 26% vs. nav: 44%, OR = 3.48, 95%CI [1.08, 11.15], p = 0.04. There were no differences, however, between navigated and non-navigated women regarding odds of an early stage diagnosis and current quality of life (ps = 0.62-0.94). Conclusion: Navigated women’s greater propensity to engage in SDM compared with non-navigated women aligns with past research and suggests PN is effective for changing patients’ behaviors when actively engaged with navigators. However, we did not find that PN was associated with stage at diagnosis. Further, the absence of an association on current mental and physical well-being suggests that PN may have limited long-term effects. Limitations include use of self-report data and a small, convenience-based sample. Further research should assess how patient navigation can be adapted to have more sustained effects in the long term.

Citation Format: Agnieszka M. Mynarska, Shaila M. Strayhorn, Tynetta Hill-Muhammad, Nyahne Q. Bergeron, Desmona C. Strahan, Stephanie L. Jara, Nancy Rayas, Anita Rong, Misael Villegas, Dana Villines, Karriem S. Watson, Aditya Khanna, Yamilé Molina. An exploration of patient navigation on various outcomes of African American breast cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: Thirteenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2020 Oct 2-4. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-062.