Evaluation of Pacific cancer care navigation patient facilitation and support service

Abstract

From 2010, a not-for-profit community services’ provider has delivered a Pacific cancer navigation patient facilitation and support service (hereafter ‘the Service’) for Pacific peoples residing in an area of West Auckland, New Zealand. The Service was evaluated in 2013. As part of the evaluation, both group and individual interviews were held with sixteen cancer patients, eight family members and seven key informants; in conjunction, observations and informal discussions were held with two navigators. Service personnel were closely involved from the inception of the evaluation, and this practice will be discussed as part of building an evaluation culture in the organisation. There was general agreement that the implementation of the facilitation and support Service had proceeded well, this was characterised by effective engagement with health professionals; the establishment of a support group; the provision of transport; assistance in dealings with Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ); and the provision of timely and accurate information to assist patients and their families. From this common consensus, suggestions were made around increasing and ensuring ongoing funding to sustain the supporting roles of navigators and the services offered. Other invaluable features of the Service included the ability of navigators to translate from English to Samoan, and from medical to lay language, as well as the provision of the Service beyond central metro areas.