Navigation needs in patients with advanced cancer: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: To assess the navigation needs in patients with advanced cancer.Method: Cross-sectional study with 52 oncologic patients at advanced staging. Using sociodemographic, clinical instruments and the Navigation Needs Assessment Scale, stratified into six categories that generate scores, analyzed by Shapiro-Wilk test, Chi-square, and linear regression model. Results: The average navigation need score was 9.21 points, with a standard deviation of 2.25; 61.54% without navigation needs and 28.85% at level 1. The categories were: partial understanding of the treatment trajectory (73.08%), difficulty organizing treatment (51.92%, p=0.00001), and partial family support (50%, p=0.023). Factors indicating higher navigation levels were age (df=2; wald=13.94; p=0.001), lower family income (df=2; wald=16.88; p=0.000), low education level (df=1; wald=7.84; p=0.005), lack of physical activity (df=1; wald=13.01; p=0.000), smoking (df=1; wald=5.24; p=0.022), and use of the public health system (df=1; wald=0.87; p=0.0003). Conclusion: The assessed navigation needs were related to sociodemographic and clinical factors such as advanced age, low education level, lower family income, lack of physical activity, smoking, and use of the public health system, highlighting the importance of targeted strategies to promote early access and continuity of oncologic care.