Results of Five Years of a Cancer Patient Navigation Training Program for Limited-Resource Settings in the Caribbean and Africa.

PURPOSE: Cancer patient navigation (CPN) training programs in the United States do not address the unique challenges of limited-resource settings. This study evaluates knowledge acquisition, utilization, and participant feedback from the Caribbean Cancer Research Institute's (CCRI) CPN training program, which trained participants from the Caribbean, Botswana, and Kenya between 2018 and 2023.

METHODS

The CCRI conducted in-person CPN training in 2018 and 2019, paused in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and transitioned to a virtual format in 2021. The program, delivered annually, expanded its curriculum and included participants from Kenya and Botswana. Knowledge acquisition was assessed through a 60-question pretest and post-test, and a 23-question program evaluation survey measured participant satisfaction. A follow-up eight-question survey assessed knowledge utilization. Summary statistics were used to describe participant demographics and survey responses, whereas paired t-tests were used to compare pretest and post-test scores.

RESULTS

The virtual, self-paced CCRI CPN Training Program covered 11 topics over 12 hours. Between 2018 and 2023, 55 participants enrolled: 80% (n = 44) passed, 18% (n = 10) failed, and 2% (n = 1) did not complete the course. Most participants (95%, n = 52) were from the Caribbean, with 80% (n = 44) from Trinidad and Tobago. Three participants were from Botswana and Kenya. The majority were female (98%, n = 54) and nurses (36%, n = 20), and did not have a personal history of cancer (89%, n = 49). Significant knowledge gains (P < .001) were observed across all years except 2023. Participants expressed high satisfaction and suggested improvements. Twenty-two percent (n = 6 of 27) secured employment as patient navigators in oncology settings.

CONCLUSION

The CCRI CPN training program trained participants across the Caribbean and showed preliminary acceptability in Kenya and Botswana. Strengths include its low-cost, virtual, self-paced format, adaptability to limited-resource settings, and region-specific content. Future efforts will focus on updating training materials and expanding recruitment.