PATIENT’S PERCEPTION ON THE QUALITY OF PATIENT NAVIGATOR’S SERVICES AT LAGOS UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, NIGERIA

PATIENT’S PERCEPTION ON THE QUALITY OF PATIENT NAVIGATOR’S SERVICES AT LAGOS UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, NIGERIA

 Odumosu O*, Alabi AO**, Lawal AO**, Mbanugo E*, NICHOLAS IRURHE**, Yakubu CK**, Nwige**, Sowunmi AC**, Habeebu MYM** Fatiregun Olamijulo**

*Run For A Cure Africa, Lagos, Nigeria

**Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-araba, Lagos, Nigeria.

Corresponding Author: Odumosu Olayinka

                                           One Stop Breast Clinic,

                                           Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-araba,

                                           Lagos, Nigeria.

                                           +2348050218416

                                           Olayinka_odumosu@yahoo.com                                                                                    

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Lack of access to care, funding limitations, cultural, and social barriers are challenges that have led to adverse cancer outcomes amongst breast cancer patients in Nigeria. An increasingly popular approach to improving cancer care outcomes has been navigator programs. The first patient navigator program was introduced by Dr. Harold Freeman, a breast surgeon at the Harlem Hospital in New York City. He observed a pattern of late-stage presentation in breast cancer patients where the primary barrier to early, effective treatment was the inability to access medical care in a timely manner. A Patient Navigator is a member of the community who has a clear understanding of the local social and cultural issues and is simultaneously aware of the functioning of the health care system. Patient navigators have established contacts with the medical team as well as other support services. The navigator accomplishes this most effectively through one-on-one contact with the patient from the time of initial suspicion of the cancer diagnosis.

Aim

To evaluate the perception of breast cancer patients on the quality of patient navigator services at the one-stop Breast Clinic, Lagos University Teaching Hospital(LUTH), Idi-Araba.  

Materials and Methods

This was a prospective study done over a period of one month in the one-stop breast clinic, LUTH. Data was collected from patients randomly including age, marital status, gender, educational status and patients’ perception of patient navigator services. Ethics approval was obtained from LUTH HREC. Data was analysed using SPSS version 21.0

Results

A total of 60 patients were reviewed for the study. The mean age was 44years. Thirty (50%) of the patients were married while 21.7%(13) were single. Twenty-one (35%) had primary school education while 13 (21.6%) had tertiary education. All patients rated reception by patient navigator as excellent (n=60). They also all accepted that the patient navigator was consistent in-service delivery (n=60). All patients rated good level of communication and interaction by patient navigator as excellent (n=60)  also agreed that they got help from PN in difficulties (n=60). Five (8.3%) stated that they have difficulties with their mobile network when communicating with the patient navigator via her mobile phone. Majority, 99.5% (59.5) of the surveyed patients rated their overall satisfaction with the patient navigator services as excellent. They all reported that they would use the patient navigator services again and recommend to others.

Conclusion

Patient navigator service is relatively new in Nigeria and its impact on reducing morbidity and mortality among cancer patients in our environment needs to be evaluated. Patients’ perception, is that it is a valuable service in helping patients navigate their way through the often scary and overwhelming treatment of cancer.

Key Words: Patient Navigator, breast cancer, treatment, perception