Patient Navigation Services Increase Cancer Screening and Advance Health Equity

Cancer screenings save lives — however, barriers to getting screened, like cost or lack of access to screening services, exist. Patient navigation services can help lower those barriers. The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends patient services to help increase screening rates for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer among historically disadvantaged racial and ethnic populations and people with lower incomes. The CPSTF’s recommendation is based on a systematic review of 34 studies. 

Patient navigation services may include:

• Reduced out-of-pocket costs
• Help with appointment scheduling
• Translation services 
• Transportation or childcare assistance

CPSTF finds patient navigation services to increase breast cancer screening are cost-effective. More research is needed to determine the cost effectiveness of patient navigation services to increase cervical cancer screening.