The goal of this study is to evaluate the pilot phase of ACS Cares to identify key implementation outcomes and assess effectiveness of the program to improve distress, enhance communication, and reduce missed appointments and healthcare utilization.
In 2023, the American Cancer Society (ACS) created a new program, ACS Cares, based on the Take the Fight experience and existing literature on non-clinical navigation. The goal of ACS Cares is to supplement existing navigation infrastructure to extend navigation services to a broader population of patients. This is accomplished through designating lower level, timely tasks to volunteers and allowing paid navigators to practice at the highest level of their license (e.g nurses proving symptom management, higher level coordination). The goal of this study is to evaluate the pilot phase of ACS Cares to identify key implementation outcomes and assess effectiveness of the program to improve distress, enhance communication, and reduce missed appointments and healthcare utilization.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
2,000
Student volunteers providing navigation support to patients, families and caregivers with a cancer diagnosis through an SDOH assessment.
UCLA Health
Los Angeles, California, United States
American Cancer Society
Kennesaw, Georgia, United States
University of Iowa Health Care
Iowa City, Iowa, United States
Medical University Hospital Authority, Hollings Cancer Center
Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Measure the impact of ACS CARES on patient-reported outcomes: SDOH barriers
SDOH barriers
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months into pilot
Measure the impact of ACS CARES on patient-reported outcomes: Information Needs
Information Needs
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months into pilot
Measure the impact of ACS CARES on patient-reported outcomes: Distress needs
Distress needs
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months into pilot
Measure the impact of ACS CARES on patient-reported outcomes: Satisfaction with program
Satisfaction with program
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months into pilot
Measure the impact of ACS CARES on patient-reported outcomes: Unmet needs
Unmet needs
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months into pilot
Measure the impact of ACS CARES on patient-reported outcomes: Patient-provider communication
Patient-provider communication
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months into pilot
Measure the impact of ACS CARES on patient-reported outcomes: clinical trials knowledge
clinical trials knowledge
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months into pilot
Measure the impact of ACS CARES on patient-reported outcomes: Patient activation
Patient activation
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months into pilot
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Measure the impact of ACS CARES on patient-reported outcomes: Financial toxicity
Financial toxicity
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months into pilot
Measure the impact of ACS CARES on patient-reported outcomes: Quality of life
Quality of life
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months into pilot
Context, Training, and Process Measures: Service Penetrance and Process Measures: Service Penetrance
• # of patients/caregivers approached for ACS CARES Median and range per volunteer • # of patients/caregivers who decline by refusal reason • # of patients/caregivers supported by ACS CARES Median and range per volunteer • # of patients/caregivers who received psychosocial distress screening Median and range per ACS CARES volunteer • # of patients/caregivers who received an SDOH screening Median and range per ACS CARES volunteer • # of follow-ups conducted Median and range per ACS CARES volunteer • # of in-person visits conducted Median and range per ACS CARES volunteer • # of shifts completed Median and range per ACS CARES volunteer • # of referrals received from health system team members
Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Sociodemographic differences between ACS CARES supported and non-ACS CAREs supported patients
Patient characteristics: age, sex, gender (if available), race, ethnicity, insurance status, zip code, urban or rural residence, Area Deprivation Index category, and distance from cancer center (\<30 minutes, 30-60 minutes, \>60 minutes)
Time frame: baseline and 1 year
Impact of ACS CARES on treatment adherence and healthcare
Cancer and treatment characteristics: cancer type, date of diagnosis, type of current treatment (Surgery, Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy, Targeted Therapy, Immunotherapy, Stem Cell or Bone Marrow Transplant, Hormone Therapy), total clinic appointments, # clinic appts missed/cancelled, total infusion appointments, # infusion appointments missed/cancelled, total radiation treatment appts, # radiation treatment appointments missed/cancelled, enrolled in a clinical trial (y/n), start date of clinical trial participation, ER visits, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, total cost of care. For new patients during baseline or intervention time periods, date of first clinic visit.
Time frame: baseline and 1 year
Context, Training, and Process Measures: Volunteer Satisfaction
Volunteer Satisfaction Index
Time frame: 1 year