Table 1
Box 1. Eligibility criteria for navigation programs included in the realist evaluation |
|---|
1. The program serves community dwelling adults with chronic, life-limiting illness. |
2. The program may be situated within the community or within a hospital setting. |
3. Within the program there are dedicated individuals who provide navigation services. These individuals may be referred to as “Navigators” (though not necessarily) and may be paid staff or volunteers. Navigation services may include, but are not limited to: patient education, care planning, home visits, fostering of coordination and continuity across health settings, and early identification of and response to health changes [31]. |
4. The program is a formal program. That is, it must be affiliated with a host organization and have some sort of governance structure and accountability. |
5. The program offers services that encompass a palliative approach to care. According to Touzal and Shadd “a palliative approach exists when care simultaneously addresses whole-person needs, enhances quality of life, and acknowledges mortality. This model is applicable to care provided in any setting, by any provider, to any patient with a life-threatening illness, at any point in the illness trajectory” [32]. |