A Guide to Implementing Best Practices in Person ... - cancerview.ca

Navigation: A Guide to Implementing Person-Centred Care September 2012ing volunteers. The competency frameworkincluded three domains: Self-as-Navigator,Communication and Knowledge/Information(Lorhan et al., forthcoming).For more information about the BCCAVolunteer Navigation Position Description,see Appendix L. For more informationabout the BCCA Volunteer NavigationProgram, contact Shaun Lorhan(slorhan@bccancer.bc.ca)Ongoing support for peer/lay navigators isnecessary. In the Canadian programs, supervisionis provided, as are regular debriefing sessions. The cost advantages of using volunteersin this capacity must be reconciled with the need for professional supervision andsupport. The cost-effectiveness of volunteer Navigation is an area for future study.Evidence and EvaluationThere are few models to evaluate whether or how peer/lay Navigation makes a differencein people’s treatment experience, quality of life, survival or other aspects of thecancer journey. Further, little is known about its benefits compared to professionalmodels. To date, the evidence does not support one model over another. Giese-Daviset al. (2006) claim evidence from their study shows peer navigators help reduce distress.Hohenadel et al. (2007) found that patients from their pilot program reportedimportant implications for emotional and physical health. Programs in which peer/laynavigators have been used to recruit participants for screening have found thatscreening rates improve (Freeman, 2006; Jandorf et al., 2005; Burhansstipanov et al.,1998). Importantly, evidence from various programs suggests that peer/lay Navigationhelps reduce barriers for marginalized populations (Freeman, 2006; Steinberg et al.,2006; Burhansstipanov et al., 1998).In Canada, evaluation has focussed on feasibility of and satisfaction with peer/laynavigator training. The findings are limited because the peer/lay programs are verysmall and the evaluation tools are variable. More needs to be done to develop knowledgein this field. The Cancer Journey Program Logic Model and the Cancer JourneyQuality Improvement and Evaluation Framework can be adapted for peer/lay Navigationprograms to provide a starting point for more robust evaluation (see Appendices Band J).ConclusionPeer/lay Navigation programs have, understandably, responded to particular needs indifferent contexts without waiting for standardized models and often with limited resources.It seems that the task at hand is to continue to learn from their successes andchallenges and to maintain flexibility to differing needs, even while the service is consolidatedand systematized.22