Patient Navigation in Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Review.

A comprehensive electronic literature review of PubMed and Embase databases was conducted to identify relevant studies investigating the role of patient navigators in cancer treatment from August 1, 2009 to March 27, 2023. Fifty-nine articles were included in this review. Amongst studies focused on cancer treatment initiation, 70% found a significant improvement in treatment initiation amongst patients who were enrolled in patient navigation programs, 71% of studies focused on treatment adherence demonstrated significant improvements in treatment adherence, 87% of studies investigating patient satisfaction showed significant benefits, and 81% of studies reported a positive impact of patient navigators on quality care indicators. Three palliative care studies found beneficial effects of patient navigation. Thirty-seven studies investigated disadvantaged populations, with 76% of them concluded that patient navigators made a positive impact during treatment. This systematic review provides compelling evidence supporting the value of patient navigation programs in cancer treatment. The findings suggest that patient navigation plays a crucial role in improving access to care and optimizing treatment outcomes, especially for disadvantaged cancer patients. Incorporating patient navigation into standard oncology practice can reduce disparities and improve the overall quality of cancer care.