Assessing the Impact of a Patient Navigator Intervention Program for Vietnamese-American Women with Abnormal Mammograms

• Published in: Journal of cancer education Vol. 37; no. 3; pp. 621 - 630
• Main Authors: Thai, Chan L., Ong, Giannina, Tran, TrangKhanh, Le, Yen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-06-2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Asian Americans; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Breast cancer; Cancer; Cancer Research; Females; Mammography; Medical diagnosis; Participant Satisfaction; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Pretests Posttests; Abnormal mammogram; Breast cancer; Patient navigation; Vietnamese-American women
• ISSN: 0885-8195; 1543-0154
• DOI: 10.1007/s13187-020-01856-5

Breast cancer incidence among Asian Americans increased at a rate of 1.8% per year from 2014 to 2018, while the general population’s incidence rate remained stable. Vietnamese-American women have been found to have the longest follow-up time after an abnormal mammogram. This study assesses the impact of a patient navigator program for Vietnamese-American women who received abnormal mammograms. Ninety-six Vietnamese-American participants with abnormal mammograms were assigned a Vietnamese patient navigator to provide emotional support, education, translation, and assistance with medical bills and doctor’s appointments. Data collected from pre-test, post-test (1 year after initial enrollment in program), and 3-month follow-up surveys measured psychosocial outcomes and participant satisfaction. All 96 participants attended follow-up appointments for their abnormal mammograms. Psychosocial outcomes worsened from pre- to post-test, though these results were not statistically significant. Feeling in control of situations in one’s life improved and was significant for participants who did not receive a breast cancer diagnosis (4.31, 5.04,
p
 = .039). A majority of the participants reported satisfaction with their patient navigators. Vietnamese-American women have been found to be the least adherent to appropriate follow-up after an abnormal mammogram; in this study, all 96 participants attended a follow-up appointment within 90 days. Findings did not show improvements in psychosocial outcomes. Past research suggests that sociocultural factors may be at play: the initial abnormal mammogram may have triggered fatalistic thoughts affecting the reactions of the participants, even though the abnormal mammogram did not result in a breast cancer diagnosis.