Patient Navigation Models for Lung Cancer

Describe your topic.: Would more assistance navigating the healthcare system improve lung cancer outcomes including time to treatment, symptom management, quality of life, and survival? Which patient navigation models are most effective at improving lung cancer survival, quality of life, and symptom management outcomes? Does this vary by geographic location (rural, suburban, urban)? Does this vary by socioeconomic status, literacy, race/ethnicity?

Describe why this topic is important.: Lung cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and is the leading cause of cancer fatalities among all races and ethnicities in the United States. The 5-year survival rate is only 18.1%, however survival rates improve with early detection. African Americans and lower SES groups have higher overall cancer incidence and mortality rates. At-risk, low SES individuals are also less likely to get screened compared to higher SES individuals.

Tell us why you are suggesting this topic.: The research topic presented here was created by stakeholder participants in the second demonstration of a PCORI-funded study testing the SEED Method study at Virginia Commonwealth University (go.vcu.edu/SEED). The SEED Method is a new methodology that combines stakeholder engagement with a review of the literature to generate research questions around a health topic. The second demonstration involved patients, service providers, and clinicians in a facilitated process to develop research questions on lung cancer outcomes. We identified these topics through a 9-month community engagement project that included community members, patients, caregivers, health care providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders. The participants developed and prioritized lists of research questions on lung cancer outcomes. The lit review we completed was only to identify gaps in the literature in order to tweak and finalize the stakeholder questions and create a final research agenda.; We are disseminating the research questions/priorities to relevant organizations and funding institutions in the hopes of increasing interest, research, and funding on these topics.

Describe what you are doing currently and what you are hoping will change because of a new evidence report.: We have circulated the research agendas to other organizations, researchers, funding institutions, and academic journals in the hopes of increasing interest, research, and funding on topics that are of importance to stakeholders. An evidence report would gather available evidence to answer questions that are important to patients, service providers, and other stakeholders and may promote clinical uptake of findings, as well as highlight gaps in the evidence base that may inform and encourage future research efforts in this topic area.

How will you or your group use the information from a new evidence report?: We do not have direct plans for the use or dissemination of the literature review.

How would you or your group plan to disseminate information from the report? Who would you plan to disseminate it to?: n/a

Do you know of organizations that could use an evidence report to change clinical practice? Are you a part of, or have you been in contact with, any organizations that might implement the research findings of an evidence report?: n/a

Information About You: (optional)

Effective Health Care Program