Do navigators' estimates of navigation intensity predict navigation time for cancer care?

Patient navigation requires that patient load be equitably distributed. We examined whether navigators could predict the relative amount of time needed by different patients for navigation. Analysis of 139 breast and colorectal cancer patients randomized to the navigation arm of a trial evaluating the effectiveness of navigation. Navigators completed a one-item scale estimating how much navigation time patients were likely to require. Participants were mostly females (89.2%) with breast cancer (83.4%); barriers to cancer care were insurance difficulties (26.6%), social support (18.0%), and transportation (14.4%). Navigator baseline estimates of navigation intensity predicted total navigation time, independent of patient characteristics. The total number of barriers, rather than any specific type of barrier, predicted increased navigator time, with a 16% increase for each barrier. Navigators' estimate of intensity independently predicts navigation time for cancer patients. Findings have implications for assigning navigator case loads.