Navigator Helps Treat Cancer Patients

Navigation assistance for cancer patients is very necessary to support a better treatment journey.

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS WISNU WARDHANA DANY

Health services in front of the Outpatient Installation of the Tangerang Regency General Hospital on Tuesday (31/8/2021). The hospital is providing Covid-19 vaccination for patients with comorbidities, cancer, cancer survivors, pregnant women, and the general public using the Pfizer vaccine.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The existence of navigators will help overcome the communication and knowledge gaps of cancer patients in hospitals. This is expected to optimize the treatment and care of very complex cancer patients.

Director Main Dharmais Cancer Hospital Raden Soeko Werdi Nindito Daroekoesoemo said that there is often a communication gap between doctors or health workers and patients. Limited consultation time means that the information received by patients is not good. This is also compounded by the gap in patient knowledge regarding their disease.

"So, it is often found that cancer patients, apart from being stressed about their disease, are also confused about what to do, both for diagnostics and treatment. "We also think there should be someone who plays a role like the patient's family when they are in the hospital," he said at the Graduation Ceremony for Participants in the Cancer Patient Navigator Program (Napak), Thursday (2/5/2024) , in Jakarta.

Also read: Cancer Control Efforts

Soeko stated that the role of navigators for cancer patients is considered very important in overcoming communication and knowledge gaps in cancer patients. Navigators at hospitals will help direct patients, especially new cancer patients, in their treatment journey.

Thus, the provision of cancer services can be more precise and faster. Navigational assistance is provided starting from companionship and education regarding cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and end-stage care for patients.

MIS FRANSISKA DEWI

Main Director of Dharmais Cancer Hospital Raden Soeko Werdi Nindito Daroekoesoemo

The Napak program is a collaboration Dharmais Cancer Hospital with Roche and Tata Memorial Centre. Through this program, a number of health workers, such as doctors, nurses and psychologists, receive one year of training regarding assistance for cancer patients. At least around 1,800 patients have been helped by these trained navigators.

Also read: Cancer Service Empowerment Network Program Begins Running

"In the future, this program will not only stop at helping cancer patients. We will push through TOT (training for trainers) with guidance from Tata Memorial Centre to expand the presence of navigators for other diseases in various hospitals," said Soeko.

In addition, the curriculum on patient navigator training will also be included in the education curriculum for the master's program for nurses. This way, the ability to become a navigator can be widely possessed by healthcare workers.

The role of navigators also increases patient compliance with therapy, reduces patient stress levels, and improves patient timeliness in accessing cancer services.

Currently, training for cancer patient navigators has been conducted for healthcare workers at several hospitals. In addition to Dharmais Cancer Hospital, training for cancer patient navigators has also been conducted for healthcare workers at Dr. M Djamil Central General Hospital in Padang; Dr. Mohammad Hoesin Central General Hospital in Palembang; Fatmawati Central General Hospital in Jakarta; Persahabatan Central General Hospital in Jakarta; and Dr. Sardjito Central General Hospital in Yogyakarta.

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO

Medical officers analyze lung cancer x-rays of patients undergoing treatment at the Lung Clinic of Persahabatan Hospital, Jakarta.

Access Communications and Health System Values Strategy Director of Roche, Lucia Erniawati, stated that a small study was also conducted in the patient navigation process for the Napak program. The research was focused on the treatment of breast cancer, nasopharynx, cervix, and lungs.

The research has revealed several factors that hinder cancer patient care, including limited knowledge about cancer and the necessary cancer treatment journey. Additionally, the research also shows that a navigator's role can help improve patient compliance towards therapy, reduce patient stress levels, and increase patient timeliness in accessing cancer services.

In his speech, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin expressed his full support for the Napak program. This program is a good form of collaboration between stakeholders in health services in the community, especially services for cancer patients.

Also read: Patients Need to Understand Various Cancer Treatments

The Ministry of Health will strive to accelerate the transfer of knowledge about cancer patient navigators by facilitating national accreditation for local curriculum on Napak. The acceleration of the development of training and education centers will also be carried out so that the training can be wider.

"The provision of cancer care is one of the priorities of the government in transforming Indonesia's healthcare system. Therefore, partnerships and contributions from various stakeholders are needed to achieve an inclusive cancer care service system," said Budi.