Patient navigation is a strategy for overcoming barriers to reduce disparities and to improve access and outcomes for people affected by cancer. The international literature has reported that patient navigation is effective in improving participation in cancer screening and reducing the time from screening to diagnosis and from diagnosis to treatment initiation. Emerging evidence also suggests that patient navigation improves quality of life and patient satisfaction with care in the survivorship phase and reduces hospital readmission in the active treatment and survivorship care phases. However, navigation has not been a formal, standardised, structured program or concept in Australia, and has in part been included in other interventions such as cancer care coordination (where they exist).
Navigation is a key component of the Australian Cancer Plan and has the potential to enhance patient experience and outcomes. For Australia to maximise the potential of navigation, a number of questions must be answered. This session, entitled “Can Cancer Navigation Teach Australia New Tricks”, aims to provide an attempt in answer questions including, but not limited to, (1) How should “navigation” be integrated within the Australian cancer care system?; (2) How would the stakeholders, that make up the cancer care system, respond by utilising “navigation” to improve experiences and outcomes for Australian cancer survivors?; (3) What should be considered in the implementation of navigation in Australia?; and (4) What outcomes should Australia expect to improve and be included in prospective evaluation?.