Predictors of high financial distress in a national, multiethnic sample of patients with cancer.

Authors

null

Meera Vimala Ragavan

Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

Meera Vimala Ragavan, Rosie Cunningham, Andrea Incudine, Hala Borno, Thomas Stivers

Organizations

Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, Family Reach Foundation, Boston, MA, University of California, San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA

Research Funding

Other Foundation
Family Reach

Background: Financial toxicity is characterized by financial burden that patients face. Patients and providers are seldom aware of available resource to help mitigate this growing problem. To date, our understanding of the myriad of financial repercussions of cancer treatment remains limited. Prior published research has largely been single center, thereby limiting generalizability across the United States. This study leveraged a national, multi-ethnic sample of patients who receive financial support services including comprehensive financial assistance, navigation, planning, and a guidebook with relevant resources from a non-profit entity (Family Reach) to evaluate financial stress in during cancer treatment. Methods: Patients were identified for study participation if they received at least one financial support resource from Family Reach between 1/1/2020-6/30/2020. An 11-item survey was sent electronically to all eligible participants who were given a one-month time frame to complete. A multivariate model was employed to identify sociodemographic predictors of high financial distress. Results: A total of 832 patients were contacted, of whom 330 (40%) completed the survey. Demographic information is included in table. Patient reported financial distress in the prior week was high, with 46% of patients reporting a distress level of seven or higher on a ten-point scale. In a multivariate regression, Hispanic/Latinx ethnicity was associated with a higher distress rating and higher patient reported financial stress. Lower annual household income was associated with lower reports of feeling in financial control, lower reports of meeting monthly expenses, and higher reports of financial stress. Conclusions: Patient-reported financial distress was high in a national sample of patients with cancer who had utilized at least one financial resource provided by Family Reach. Hispanic ethnicity and Lower Annual Income were predictors of higher patient-reported financial distress. Larger samples are needed to confirm these patterns. Delivery systems should develop targeted interventions, including referrals to organizations providing financial assistance, for patient populations at high risk for financial toxicity.

Demographic characteristics of survey respondents (N=330).

Age
Mean 22 (Median 15, Stdev 17.3)
Race
White 182 (55%)

African American 62 (17%)

Asian/PI 12 (3%)

Other 41 (12%)

Native American 3 (1%)

Unknown 11 (3.3%)

Not Specified 19 (5.8%)
Ethnicity
Hispanic/Latinx 67 (20%)

Non-Hispanic/non-Latinx 212 (64%)

Not Specified 51 (16%)
Household Size
Mean 3.89, Median 4, Stdev 1.76
Annual Household Income
$0-10,000 45 (14%)

$10,000-$19.9K 38 (11.5%)

$20K-$29.9K 39 (12%)

$30-$39.9K 36 (11%)

$40-$49.9K 28 (8.5%)

>$50K 67 (20%)

Not Specified 77 (23%)

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2021 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session A: Cost, Value, and Policy; Health Equity and Disparities; Patient Experience

Track

Cost, Value, and Policy,Technology and Innovation in Quality of Care,Health Care Access, Equity, and Disparities,Patient Experience,Quality, Safety, and Implementation Science

Sub Track

Supportive Care Disparities

Citation

J Clin Oncol 39, 2021 (suppl 28; abstr 149)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2020.39.28_suppl.149

Abstract #

149

Poster Bd #

F18

Abstract Disclosures

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