Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026
Author Spotlight: Improving Radiation Therapy Access with Radiation Planning Assistant
Published on: October 6, 2023
Impact of Patient Navigation on Time to Treatment Among Patients With GI Cancers at Rwanda Military Referral and
Vincent Kwizera1,2, Costas Chavarri Aihnoa3, Kenneth Kiiza Rutikanga3
1Department of Research and Education, Rwanda Cancer Relief, Kigali, Rwanda.
Purpose:
To evaluate the impact of a patient navigation program (PNP) on treatment delays among patients with GI cancers at the Rwanda Military Referral and Teaching Hospital (RMRTH).
Methods:
PNP is a personalized support model implemented at RMRTH on April 1, 2023, to guide patients with a cancer diagnosis through the health care system. We used a quasi-experimental study design and included all patients diagnosed and treated for esophageal, gastric, or colorectal cancer in pre- and postimplementation of PNP at RMRTH. The outcomes of interest were measured in days: treatment interval from pathology report to treatment initiation. Data were abstracted from patients' medical records and analyzed using STATA version 19. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was performed. Treatment intervals were used in the time series analysis, and the Dickey-Fuller Test was used to test stationarity.
Results:
A total of 151 patients, with 85 patients in the post-PNP group, were included. The mean age (years) at diagnosis was similar (59.4 ± 13.5 years in the pre-PNP and 59 ± 14.18 years in the post-PNP group). Most patients (80.0% pre-PNP group and 80.9% post-PNP group) presented with stage III/IV. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was the most common initial treatment (48.5% pre-PNP and 54.1% post-PNP). The median treatment interval decreased from 53.5 days (IQR, 26-129) in the pre-PNP group to 32 days (IQR, 14-63) in the post-PNP group (P < .001). The reductions in treatment delays were significant over time following the implementation of the PNP (P = .004).
Conclusion:
PNP reduced treatment delays among patients with GI cancers at RMRTH. Despite the important findings, some limitations remain; hence, further studies are recommended to provide more comprehensive evidence. Integrating PNP into national cancer control strategies is essential to strengthen care coordination and ensure timely access to cancer treatment in low-resource settings like Rwanda.
Related Concept Videos
01:13Radiological Investigation III: Pulmonary Angiogram and PET Scan
Pulmonary Angiogram
A Pulmonary Angiogram is an invasive procedure involving injecting a contrast medium through a catheter threaded into the pulmonary artery or the right side of the heart to visualize the pulmonary vasculature. Computed Tomography (CT) scans have mainly replaced this...
01:29Appendicitis-II: Diagnostic Studies and Management
Diagnosing Appendicitis
It requires a multifaceted approach, starting with a detailed physical examination to pinpoint the location and nature of the pain and identify any associated symptoms. Laboratory tests play a crucial role. A complete Blood Count (CBC) typically reveals leukocytosis (an increased number of...
01:26Imaging Studies III: Gastrointestinal Motility Studies and Virtual Colonoscopy
Radionuclide Testing
Radionuclide testing is a sophisticated medical technique for assessing gastrointestinal motility. It focuses on gastric emptying and colonic transit time. Radioactive markers track the movement of food through the digestive system, providing insights into gastrointestinal disorders.
In gastric emptying studies, a meal's liquid and solid...
01:25Endoscopic Procedures II: Colonoscopy
01:26Endoscopic Procedures IV: Sigmoidoscopy and Laproscopy
Sigmoidoscopy
Sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that uses a flexible sigmoidoscope equipped with a light source and camera to examine the rectum and sigmoid colon. The procedure involves inserting the tube through the anus...