Research in health services & regions
The impact of a nurse navigation program on health, economic and medical outcomes of cancer patients in Saxony - a multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial
By Porzig R, Heckmann T, Schnabel J and 4 others.
Abstract
Background
Cancer patients frequently experience complex psychosocial and informational needs that are challenging to address within fragmented healthcare environments, resulting in care inefficiencies and patient distress. Nurse navigation programs aim to provide structured, continuous coordination. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effect of a nurse navigator program ("Onkolotse") on hospitalization rates, health-related quality of life, psychological burden, and direct hospital costs in Saxony, Germany.
Methods
In a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled parallel-group trial across six certified hospital centers, 258 adult cancer patients were randomly allocated (1:1) to an intervention group receiving 12 months of nurse navigator support or a control group receiving standard guideline-based care. The primary endpoint was the 12-month hospitalization rate (≥ 1 additional inpatient stay with at least one overnight stay). Sensitivity analyses evaluated complete cases and alternative deterministic assumptions for missing hospitalization data. Secondary endpoints included anxiety and depression (HADS-D). Exploratory endpoints included health literacy (HLS-EU-Q16), health-related quality of life (SF-36), social support (MOS-SSS), and hospital costs documented by hospital medical controlling.