IARC 60th Anniversary - 19-21 May 2026
Session : 21/05/26 - Posters
Process Standardization in Oncology Navigation: Experience from a Brazilian Public Health Network
RAMOS T. 1, SCAFF A. 1, DA SILVA D. 1, DA SILVA DE LIMA F. 1, REIS R. 1
1 Fundação do Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Introduction: Professional Patient Navigation has emerged as a promising strategy and a structural resource for person-centered care. Given the growing international recognition of this model, it is essential to move beyond conceptual frameworks to prioritize operational effectiveness in real-world clinical settings. From an implementation science perspective, the efficacy of this intervention is linked to the adoption of standardized methodologies and the definition of processes and indicators. Consequently, the incorporation of accessible information technologies enables continuous monitoring, replicability, and scalability of the model. These elements are indispensable in health systems, where the systematic analysis of workflows and outcomes is key to mitigating bottlenecks, reducing care variability, ensuring equity, and improving the oncological journey. Objective: To analyze the methodological structuring and indicators of a professional navigation program implemented in a large city in Rio de Janeiro, focusing on process standardization as a strategic pillar for efficiency and replicability. Methods: This experience report details the operational structure of a navigation program functioning as a management technology integrated into the municipal health network, technically executed by two oncology nurse specialists between October 2022 and October 2025. The workflow is initiated through a hybrid recruitment strategy, combining weekly on-site active case-finding at a reference surgical hospital alongside the systematic processing of referral lists from specialty polyclinics. Upon enrollment, data collection was conducted based on topography-specific indicators, essential for identifying clinical barriers and social vulnerabilities. This allowed for the development of personalized navigation plans, where monitoring frequency was determined by the treatment phase and case complexity. To ensure traceability of the therapeutic itinerary, a low-cost digital infrastructure was utilized, consisting of task management software and cloud-based spreadsheets. In this context, the "interaction" variable (atendimento) was created to record every contact made during the follow-up. Practical follow-up was based on communication tools such as text messages, audio, and phone calls, allowing the nurses to act as a central communication link between primary care, specialized units, physicians, and families, ensuring the management of adverse events and continuity of care, even in the face of severe intellectual comprehension barriers or socioeconomic fragility. Results: A total of 314 patients were recruited; of these, 258 (82.2%) remained under active monitoring at the program's conclusion. The primary topographies were breast (n=187), cervix (n=44), and prostate (n=26), followed by endometrium (n=5), ovary (n=5), and vulva (n=1). A total of 4,260 interactions were recorded, with systematic data collection beginning in July 2023 following workflow standardization. Regarding navigation outcomes, 71.8% (n=225) of the cohort underwent treatment under direct nurse monitoring, while 28.2% (n=89) received specialized support during the follow-up phase, ensuring continuity across the care continuum. Conclusion: This experience proves that oncology navigation in the public sector is feasible, demonstrating that effectiveness is linked to process standardization and team qualification. The model reveals itself as a pragmatic and applicable solution, capable of converting theoretical guidelines into real and equitable clinical outcomes, successfully adapting to the resource limitations of public health networks.