Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2024

Bundling and patient navigation in early-stage breast cancer care – Patient reported interim findings of a 100 patient pilot study (#221)

Yvonne Zissiadis 1 , Sarah Wise 2 , Wen Chan Yeow 3 , Helen Ballal 3 , JULIA SCHULZ 4 , Nicola Forsyth 1
  1. Radiation Oncology, GenesisCare, Perth, WA, Australia
  2. Centre of Health Economics Research and Evaluaton, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  3. St John Of God Hospital Subiaco, Perth, WA, Australia
  4. GenesisCare, Alexandria, NSW, Australia

Introduction 

GenesisCare, St John of God Hospital Subiaco, University of Western Australia, Medibank and HBF have been undertaking a pilot study of the role of bundling and patient navigation in early-stage breast cancer care. The Early-stage Breast Cancer Bundle pilot was established in August 2022 and aims to recruit 100 patients to evaluate whether the program has met its objectives, including:

  1. Improve patient experience through navigation support and easy access to comprehensive services over the full cycle of care (first 12 months of care); 
  2. Improve patient outcomes though access to best practice supportive treatments and reduced distress; 
  3. Create financial transparency and certainty on price for the full treatment pathway; 
  4. Create a sustainable, scalable model that can be expanded to other locations or cancer types with costs and outcomes measured. 

Methods 

The Pilot team partnered with CHERE at University Technology Sydney to complete an evaluation, utilising qualitative and quantitative data collection methods to inform both formative and summative findings from the pilot.  

Interim results 

Early findings of the patient experience survey (n = 27) suggest that the Bundle is meeting its objectives:  

  • 85% (n = 26) agreed or strongly agreed that the Bundle had reduced the financial worries of their cancer treatment 
  • 81% (n = 22) said it gave them access to allied health care that they would not have otherwise accessed 
  • All respondents valued the navigator for reducing stress in managing all the appointments; 93% (n = 25) agreed that the navigator helped them understand their treatment pathway. (1) 

These early findings provide a snapshot of the patient experience of the Bundle. As data collection and analysis of costs and outcomes progresses, we will build a clearer picture of whether the Bundle is sustainable and provides value-based care. Final report due mid 2025. 

  1. 1. Zissiadis Y et al. (2024) Designing and implementing a bundle of care for patients with early-stage breast cancer: lessons from a pilot program. Australian Health Review 48(2), 142–147.