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Nurse navigation improved self-efficacy during colorectal cancer treatment in a randomized trial

Supportive care in cancer (PubMed)Aug 6, 2026

AI-summarized from the linked source. Educational brief, not medical advice.

Brief summary

A randomized trial found a greater increase in cancer-related self-efficacy with nurse navigation from diagnosis through follow-up than with standard care among patients undergoing colorectal cancer treatment.

What NurseJet pulled from the source

Five specially educated nurse navigators delivered needs assessment, distress evaluation, and emotional support across the treatment trajectory. Among 222 complete cases from 271 randomized participants, the estimated between-group difference in change on the Cancer Behavior Inventory short form was 4.92 points in favor of navigation.

Why this matters for nurses

Oncology nurses often identify care barriers, distress, education needs, and gaps between services. This trial directly evaluates a nurse-delivered longitudinal model and suggests that structured navigation can strengthen patients' confidence in managing the cancer experience.

Bedside takeaway

Structured nurse navigation can pair needs and distress assessment with coordinated support across colorectal cancer treatment transitions.

How This Applies in Practice

Use this when: Supporting a patient through diagnosis, active treatment, or follow-up for colorectal cancer within an approved navigation program.

On your shift

  • Assess practical needs, distress, understanding, confidence, and barriers at defined treatment transitions rather than only at enrollment.
  • Document referrals, responsible team members, expected follow-up, and whether each identified need was resolved or remains open.
  • Use teach-back to confirm the next treatment step, symptom-reporting route, appointment plan, and how to contact the navigation team.
Keep in mind: The trial measured self-efficacy and does not establish effects on clinical outcomes or every navigation model. Follow the oncology protocol, facility policy, and provider orders.

Key takeaways

  • The trial randomized 271 patients after physician-verified suspicion of colorectal cancer, with 222 included as complete cases.
  • Self-efficacy increased by an estimated 6.98 points with navigation and 2.06 points with standard care.
  • The estimated between-group difference in change was 4.92 points, with a 95% confidence interval from 0.75 to 9.08.
  • The intervention combined needs assessment, distress evaluation, and emotional support from diagnosis through treatment completion or follow-up.

Practice implications

  • Use an approved navigation pathway to identify practical and emotional needs, document distress and unresolved barriers, coordinate referrals, and close the loop across treatment transitions. Track patient understanding and confidence rather than assuming that information alone resolves navigation needs.

Limitations & cautions

  • Only 222 of 271 randomized participants were included as complete cases, and the abstract reports the self-efficacy outcome without clinical-event, quality-of-life, utilization, or long-term durability results. The intervention was delivered by specially educated navigators, so effects may depend on training and local service design.
  • AI-summarized from the linked source. Review the original article before applying to practice.

Citations

Exact source links

Public citations are filtered to exact credible source pages. Homepage-only or invalid links stay in admin review and are not shown here.

Supportive care in cancer (PubMed)

Supportive care in cancer (PubMed). Improving self-efficacy through nurse navigation in patients during treatment for colorectal cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

Open original source

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42557451/

Professional education only

This summary does not replace clinical judgment, facility policy, provider orders, or official guidelines. Verify practice changes against the original source and local protocol.

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