J Educ Res Nurs. 2023; 20(3): 284-287 | DOI: 10.14744/jern.2021.21186

A Current Approach to Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast, Colorectal and Cervical Cancers in Women: “Nurse Navigation Program” and “Nurse Navigator”

Pınar Uzunkaya Öztoprak, Gülten Koç
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Nursing, Ankara, Türkiye

Advances in the implementation and treatment of cancer screening programs reduce morbidity and mortality rates. However, reasons such as not being able to access medical information, deficiencies in the reminder system, and lack of interest in cancer screening negatively affect the behavior of individuals to have cancer screening. In recent years, the “Nurse Navigation Program” has come to the fore as an innovative approach to increase women’s participation in cancer screening and to ensure that they receive the necessary treatment and care on time. Within the scope of this program, “the Nurse Navigator”, who is in constant communication with women, provides health consultancy on early diagnosis and treatment of cancers, which is important in protecting and maintaining health, identifying cancer risk factors and individual, organizational and social barriers to screening, and offering necessary solutions, makes them more sensitive in protecting their health. In line with the current literature, this review aims to examine the effect of “Nurse Navigator” on women’s participation in cancer screening, early diagnosis, and treatment of cancers within the scope of the “Nurse Navigation Program.”

Keywords: Cancer, early diagnosis, health promotion, nurse navigator, screening, women’s health

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