ArticleBMC public health2026
A mixed-methods evaluation of a patient navigation program for breast and cervical cancers in Rwanda.
Article in BMC public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Delayed presentation of a giant vulvar squamous cell carcinoma in a low-resource setting: a case report.International journal of surgery case reports · 2026Article
- Cancer patient navigation interventions improving timeliness from diagnosis to first treatment in oncology care: A scoping review.Japan journal of nursing science : JJNS · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
15 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionRwanda faces challenges in delivering effective cancer care due to limited patient access and a fragmented healthcare system.
objectiveRwanda faces challenges in delivering effective cancer care due to limited patient access and a fragmented healthcare system. This study evaluated the pilot phase of the Digitally Enabled Cancer Patient Navigation (DCPN) program, implemented to improve continuity of care for breast and cervical cancer patients by navigating them through complex cancer care pathways.
methodsThe DCPN program had two components: (1) a digital platform connecting five major cancer care hospitals and (2) facility-based patient navigators who assisted patients through their care journey. This mixed methods study included in-depth semi-structured qualitative interviews with patient navigators, hospital staff, and patients, and analyzed thematically based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), to understand program experiences, strengths, and challenges. A retrospective quantitative analysis was used to assess DCPN’s impact on diagnosis and treatment initiation timelines.
findingsThe program demonstrated adaptability to both national health system structures and local facility needs. However, the broad scope of navigator duties led to workload concerns. The digital application promoted inter-facility collaboration but faced limitations in terms of user adoption and integration. While the mean time to pathology report generation was similar between groups (16 days for DCPN vs. 15 days for control), only 7% of DCPN patients received results within five days, compared to 35% in the control group. However, DCPN significantly improved treatment initiation timelines: mean time to treatment initiation was 28 days in the DCPN group versus 82 days in controls. Moreover, 84% of DCPN patients began treatment within 60 days of diagnosis, compared to 58% without navigation.
conclusionThe successful implementation of a DCPN pilot program significantly improved treatment initiation timelines in resource-limited settings by improving coordination and navigation across cancer care services. These findings underscore the value of integrated digital and human support models in strengthening continuity of care in LMICs. Key contributors to success included adaptability, interfacility communication, and navigator training. Future research should address navigator workload, access barriers, and mental health support to develop a sustainable and scalable model that can improve clinical outcomes.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.