Kerry McBrien|Noah Ivers|Lianne Barnieh|Jacob Bailey|Diane Lorenzetti|David Nicholas|Marcello Tonelli|Brenda R. Hemmelgarn|Richard Lewanczuk|Alun Edwards|Theodore E. D. Braun|Braden Manns
Patient navigators for people with chronic disease: A systematic review
University of Calgary|Women's College Hospital|University of Toronto|University of Calgary|University of Calgary|University of Calgary|University of Calgary|University of Calgary|University of Calgary|Alberta Health Services|University of Alberta|University of Calgary|Alberta Health Services|University of Calgary
people chronic diseases experience barriers managing diseases accessing available health services patient navigator programs increasingly used help people chronic diseases navigate access health servicesthe objective review summarize evidence patient navigator programs people broad range chronic diseases compared usual carewe searched medline embase central cinahl psycinfo social work abstracts inception august 23 2017 also searched reference lists included articles included original reports randomized controlled trials patient navigator programs compared usual care adult pediatric patients one defined set chronic diseasesfrom total 14672 abstracts 67 unique studies fit inclusion criteria 44 cancer 8 diabetes 7 hivaids 4 cardiovascular disease 2 chronic kidney disease 1 dementia 1 patients one condition program characteristics varied considerably primary outcomes commonly process measures 45 67 studies reported statistically significant improvement primary outcomeour findings indicate patient navigator programs improve processes care although studies assessed patient experience clinical outcomes costs inability definitively outline successful components remains key uncertainty use patient navigator programs across chronic diseases given increasing popularity patient navigators future studies use consistent definition patient navigation determine elements intervention likely lead improved outcomesprospero crd42013005857