Abstract PO4-12-01: Navigation program for timely needs assessment and referral to appropriate services among young breast cancer patients in Mexico

Abstract Background: International guidelines on young women with breast cancer (YWBC) endorse patient navigation (PN) and education interventions to reduce barriers that hinder early access to information and healthcare. In Mexico, the first PN program for YWBC was created by Joven p .001). Feedback on the PN program was provided in 172/207 (83%), 96/138 (70%), and 123/123 (100%) cases at baseline, 3 m and 6 m, respectively. At all timepoints, nearly all patients were very satisfied/satisfied with the program (98-99%); believed the needs detection survey had explored aspects they deemed relevant at the moment (91-98%); affirmed the program had eased their referral to all (73-80%) or some (19-27%) of the services they believed they needed; and stated the program aided them to better cope with their illness (97-99%). Most (82-88%) rated their satisfaction with the information provided by the program ≥90/100. Conclusion: The main needs observed in this YWBC cohort comprised access to support groups, nutritional counseling, psychological care, and wig providers. The vast majority of patients were highly satisfied with the information and guidance provided by the PN program. Although PN timely identified patients’ health needs and informed them on their individual referral recommendations, attendance rates to the required services were suboptimal in most cases. Factors for non-attendance included possibly the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as personal and health system aspects, which should be further explored to effectively address them and increase timely access to comprehensive, patient-centered care. Table. Patients’ referral and attendance to specialty and supportive care services Citation Format: Fernanda Mesa-Chavez, Lucero Labra, Ana Rodriguez, Alan Fonseca, Marlid Cruz-Ramos, Alejandra Platas, Paula Cabrera-Galeana, Cynthia Villarreal-Garza. Navigation program for timely needs assessment and referral to appropriate services among young breast cancer patients in Mexico abstract. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO4-12-01.