Characterizing Time to Diagnostic Resolution After an Abnormal Cancer Screening Exam in Older Adult Participants in the Ohio Patient Navigation Research Program

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to test the effectiveness of a patient navigation (PN) intervention to reduce time to diagnostic resolution among older adults age ≥65 years versus those <65 years with abnormal breast, cervical, or colorectal cancer screening exams participating in the Ohio Patient Navigation Research Program (OPNRP). Method: The OPNRP utilized a nested cohort group-randomized trial design to randomize 862 participants (n = 67 for ≥65 years; n = 795 for <65 years) to PN or usual care conditions. A shared frailty Cox model tested the effect of PN on time to resolution. Results: Older adult participants randomized to PN achieved a 6-month resolution rate that was 127% higher than those randomized to usual care (p = .001). This effect was not significantly different from participants <65 years. Discussion: PN significantly reduced time to diagnostic resolution among older adults beginning 6 months after an abnormal cancer screening exam. Health care systems should include this population in PN programs to reduce cancer disparities.

Keywords

patient navigation older adults diagnostic resolution barriers to care cancer health disparities

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