Toward a multi-level, needs-based approach to cancer navigation: considerations for service design

Evidence suggests that patient navigation can help address ongoing barriers to accessing timely, appropriate, and quality cancer care. It also supports people affected by cancer to navigate through complex health care systems. Cancer patient navigation interventions include education, logistical, social, and emotional support, facilitating referrals, care coordination, patient advocacy, and enabling self-management, delivered by clinical and/or non-clinical navigators. For patient navigation services to be equitable and sustainable in resource-strained health care environments, there is a need to establish fit-for-purpose, flexible, multi-layered, innovative navigation programs. These programs must also integrate virtual care technologies and emerging innovations, such as artificial intelligence, to enhance service provision and reach. This commentary draws on a contemporary Australian framework for patient navigation and global practice standards to offer service design considerations. Further global efforts in research, practice, and policy development are crucial for building sustainable cancer patient navigation workforce models and ensuring high-quality service delivery.