Do nurse-navigated TSSCPs improve treatment and follow up compliance in underserved populations?

Abstract

72 Background: Multiple cancer organizations advocate for the use of treatment summaries and survivorship care plans (TSSCPs) in cancer patients. To better quantify the benefits of a nurse-navigated, culturally and linguistically responsive TSSCP in underserved breast cancer patients, we compared rates of compliance with treatment and follow up in 26 patients who were treated with TSSCPs to 38 similar controls who were treated without TSSCPs. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 26 consecutive, newly-diagnosed breast cancer patients who were given nurse-navigated TSSCPs under an IRB-approved protocol. At their first clinic visit, a trained nurse educated and assisted the patient in the use and completion of the TSSCP. Nurse-navigated TSSCPs were completed at each subsequent visit through 12 months of surveillance. Rates of compliance with treatment and follow up guidelines were compared to 38 similar control patients using a two group Fisher’s exact chi-square test. Statistical significance was set at p-value < 0.05. Results: All patients were treated under Medicaid insurance and 47% were racial and/or ethnic minorities. Time from diagnosis to treatment and time from initial clinic visit to treatment were similar across groups. The rate of compliance with first treatment recommendations was 96% (25/26) in the TSSCP group compared to 79% (30/38) in the non-TSSCP group (p = 0.07). The number of patients compliant with all follow up visits was similar: 22/25 (88%) of TSSCP patients and 22/30 (73%) in non-TSSCP patients (p = 0.31). Of the recommended total follow up appointments, 6/67 in the TSSCP group and 25/120 in the no TSSCP group were “no shows” (p = 0.04). Conclusions: Although the use of nurse-navigated TSSCPs may not improve time to treatment in medically underserved patients, adherence to first treatment recommendations and follow up appointment attendance shows some improvement in patients who participate in nurse-navigated TSSCPs. Further study is needed to fully assess the role of nurse-navigated TSSCPs in improving treatment and surveillance compliance rates and how these rates impact clinical outcomes. Acknowledgement: Funded by a Community Grant from the Los Angeles County Affiliate of Susan G. Komen.