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. 2023 Oct;26(10):1494-1502.
doi: 10.1016/j.jval.2023.06.001. Epub 2023 Jun 9.

The Integration of Value Assessment and Social Network Methods for Breast Health Navigation Among African Americans

Yamilé Molina  1 , Szu-Yu Kao  2 , Nyahne Q Bergeron  3 , Shaila M Strayhorn-Carter  4 , Desmona C Strahan  3 , Carl Asche  5 , Karriem S Watson  6 , Aditya S Khanna  7 , Bridgette Hempstead  8 , Veronica Fitzpatrick  9 , Elizabeth A Calhoun  3 , Jean McDougall  10
Affiliations

The Integration of Value Assessment and Social Network Methods for Breast Health Navigation Among African Americans

Yamilé Molina et al. Value Health. 2023 Oct.

Abstract

Objectives: A major strategy to reduce the impact of breast cancer (BC) among African Americans (AA) is patient navigation, defined here as individualized assistance for reducing barriers to healthcare use. The primary focus of this study was to estimate the added value of incorporating breast health promotion by navigated participants and the subsequent BC screenings that network members may obtain.

Methods: In this study, we compared the cost-effectiveness of navigation across 2 scenarios. First, we examine the effect of navigation on AA participants (scenario 1). Second, we examine the effect of navigation on AA participants and their networks (scenario 2). We leverage data from multiple studies in South Chicago. Our primary outcome (BC screening) is intermediate, given limited available quantitative data on the long-term benefits of BC screening for AA populations.

Results: When considering participant effects alone (scenario 1), the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was $3845 per additional screening mammogram. When including participant and network effects (scenario 2), the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was $1098 per additional screening mammogram.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that inclusion of network effects can contribute to a more precise, comprehensive assessment of interventions for underserved communities.

Keywords: African American; breast cancer; cost-effectiveness; patient navigation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: The authors have no conflicts to disclose.

References

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