Financial navigation: Staff perspectives on patients' financial burden of cancer care

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Katherine A Yeager, Emory University; Whitney E Zahnd, University of Iowa; Jan M Eberth, University of South Carolina; Robin C Vanderpool, University of Kentucky; Catherine Rohweder, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Randall Teal, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Maihan Vu, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Lindsay Stradtman, University of Kentucky; Elizabeth Frost, Case Western Reserve University; Erika Trapl, Case Western Reserve University; Sarah Koopman Gonzalez, Case Western Reserve University; Vu Thuy, University of Washington; Linda K Ko, University of Washington; Allison Cole, University of Washington; Paige E Farris, Oregon Health & Science University; Jackilen Shannon, Oregon Health & Science University; Natoshia Askelson, University of Iowa; Laura Seegmiller, University of Iowa; Arica White, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta; Jean Edward, University of Kentucky; Melinda Davis, Oregon Health & Science University; Victoria Petermann, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Stephanie B Wheeler, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Language: English
• Date: 2022-01-26
• Publisher: SPRINGER
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2024 Springer Nature
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11764-022-01175-2
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: JOURNAL OF CANCER SURVIVORSHIP
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 5
• Start Page: 1461
• End Page: 1470
• Grant/Funding Information: This publication is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS (Cooperative Agreement Number U48 DP006377, U48 DP006389, U48 DP006400, U48 DP006401, U48 DP006398, 3 U48 DP005030-01S5, 3 U48 DP005006-01S3, 3 U48 DP005014-01S2). The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, Dr. Davis was partially funded by a National Cancer Institute Career Development Award (K07CA211971).” And Ms. Petermann was funded by the Cancer Control Education Program T32 (T32CA057726-27)
• Keywords: Social Sciences; SURVIVORS; DISCUSSIONS; COSTS; TOXICITY; Finances; Cancer; Oncology; Science & Technology; Biomedical Social Sciences; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Treatment costs; Communication; Social Sciences, Biomedical
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Oncology; Education, Social Sciences; Engineering, Biomedical; Economics, Finance

Abstract

Purpose: To describe perceptions of financial navigation staff concerning patients’ cancer-related financial burden. Methods: This qualitative descriptive study used a semi-structured interview guide to examine perceptions of financial navigation staff concerning patients’ cancer-related financial burden. Staff who provided financial navigation support services to cancer patients were interviewed from different types of cancer programs across seven states representing rural, micropolitan, and urban settings. Interviews lasted approximately one hour, were audio recorded, and transcribed. Transcripts were double coded for thematic analysis. Results: Thirty-five staff from 29 cancer centers were interviewed. The first theme involved communication issues related to patient and financial navigation staff expectations, timing and the sensitive nature of financial discussions. The second theme involved the multi-faceted impact of financial burden on patients, including stress, difficulty adhering to treatments, and challenges meeting basic, non-medical needs. Conclusions and Implications for Cancer Survivors: Cancer-related financial burden has a profound impact on cancer survivors’ health and non-health outcomes. Discussions regarding cancer-related costs between cancer survivors and healthcare team members could help to normalize conversations and mitigate the multi-faceted determinants and effects of cancer-related financial burden. As treatment may span months and years and unexpected costs arise, having this discussion regularly and systematically is needed.