Empowering rural communities through designing patient navigation learning materials that bridge healthcare access...

Limited knowledge regarding patient navigation services is a significant barrier for low-income rural communities in utilizing available healthcare resources. This study aimed to empower underserved populations in Southern Philippines by developing culturally appropriate patient navigation education materials that bridge this gap and enhance healthcare accessibility. Using a community-based participatory research design, focus group discussions with 40 residents and key informant interviews with six village staff from two remote communities were conducted. A formative use of the Analyse, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate (ADDIE) model guided the systematic development of patient education materials informed by community-specific goals and preferences. Seven key patient navigation education needs were identified: (i) user-friendly design and format, (ii) step-by-step procedures, (iii) health promotion campaigns, (iv) available service information, (v) capacity-building for local health workers, (vi) contact and scheduling details, and (vii) information preparation guidelines. Participants reported understanding of patient navigation services and motivation to utilize available healthcare resources. The community-centered development process empowered residents by validating their experiences, incorporating local knowledge, and creating culturally relevant educational tools that enable active participation in healthcare decision-making. The findings contribute to participatory research by demonstrating how collaborative development of learning materials can build local capacity and healthcare self-efficacy in disadvantaged communities with an example from the Global South.