Overview
This clinical trial develops and studies how well mobile health (m-Health) patient navigation (PN) strategies work to improve screening and the early detection of breast cancer in women accessing primary care clinics in Kenya. Although highly curable, breast cancer kills thousands of women in developing countries yearly. Mammography (MMG) is used for the early detection of breast cancer by creating a picture of the breast using film or a computer. Despite the availability of MMG in all 47 counties in Kenya, screening remains low in eligible women. Early detection of breast cancer may also be improved through access to high quality clinical breast exams (CBE). However, primary care providers in Kenya face barriers to incorporating CBE into practice, including limited patient awareness of breast cancer screening. m-Health uses applications on mobile phones to deliver PN directly to the patients. The PN strategies in this study include digital platforms and tools to help with education, reminders, navigation, and motivation around breast cancer screening. This may improve screening and the early detection of breast cancer in women accessing primary care clinics in Kenya.
Description
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:
I. To design and evaluate a multi-component, multi-level, evidence-informed, m-Health-supported package of interventions and delivery strategies to promote uptake and access to resource stratified and guideline-informed breast cancer screening and early detection services in Kenya.
II. To identify and select candidate interventions that are effective in promoting uptake and access to breast cancer screening and early detection.
III. To implement a package and strategies of m-Health supported evidence-based interventions for screening and early detection of breast cancer.
IV. To evaluate feasibility (recruitment, retention, implementation) of each strategy, and identify the most effective strategy (or combination of strategies), for the lowest cost.
- OUTLINE
AIM 1: Participants complete a focus group over 60-90 minutes in support of the identification and selection of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) on study.
AIM 2: Participants are assigned to 1 of 2 groups.
GROUP I: Participants complete a stakeholder interview and complete surveys to further inform EBI adaptation and implementation on study.
GROUP II: Participants complete a key informant interview and complete surveys to further inform EBI adaptation and implementation on study.
AIM 3: Patients are randomized to 1 of 8 arms.
ARM 1: Patients receive enhanced usual care (EUC) which may consist of viewing a motivational and educational peer testimonial video, motivational interviewing regarding breast health and cancer screening, and/or being offered clinical breast examination (CBE) access followed by standardized follow-up counseling about screening MMG or guideline-based recommendations on the need for further diagnostic testing on study.
ARM 2: Patients receive EUC as in arm I and adapted m-Health PN strategy C components on study.
ARM 3: Patients receive EUC as in arm I and adapted m-Health PN strategy B components on study.
ARM 4: Patients receive EUC as in arm I and adapted m-Health PN strategy B and C components on study.
ARM 5: Patients receive EUC as in arm I and adapted m-Health PN strategy A components on study.
ARM 6: Patients receive EUC as in arm I and adapted m-Health PN strategy A and C components on study.
ARM 7: Patients receive EUC as in arm I and adapted m-Health PN strategy A and B components on study.
ARM 8: Patients receive EUC as in arm I and adapted m-Health PN strategy A, B, and C components on study.
After completion of study intervention, patients are followed up at 3 and 6 months and at study completion.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- AIM 1: All members of BREAKTHROUGH's Stakeholder Advisory Board (SAB) breast cancer working group
- AIM 1: Participants (patients and health providers) from primary health care clinics in Nairobi County
- AIM 1: Will include women (patients) aged over 35 years and speak either Kiswahili or English
- AIM 1: Include women who:
- Have never undergone MMG screening
- Previously undergone MMG screening
- Experienced breast abnormalities and have been referred for or undergone diagnostic investigations
- Are currently undergoing or have received breast cancer treatment
- AIM 1: Health care providers and breast screening facility staff (i.e. primary care clinic nurses, MMG clinic staff and technicians) will also be recruited
- AIM 2: Will engage with a diverse group of local and national interagency stakeholders, Nairobi County health leadership, and health providers across different levels of the health system
- AIM 3: Women aged 35 years and older who are able to provide informed consent who are attending the outpatient clinics for primary health care
- AIM 4: Members of SAB breast cancer group, health facilities leadership (all health facility levels)
Exclusion Criteria:
- AIM 1: Those who will be unwilling to consent and those who are unable to consent will be excluded from the study
- AIM 2: Those who will be unwilling to consent and those who are unable to consent will be excluded from the study
- AIM 3: Women undergoing breast cancer treatment and women aged 70 years and above will be excluded
- AIM 4: Members of SAB breast cancer group, and health facilities leadership who will be unwilling and unable to consent will be excluded
