Piloting a financial counseling intervention for patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy

Sheetal M. Kircher*, Jessica Yarber, Josh Rutsohn, Yanina Guevara, Madison Lyleroehr, Hannah Alphs Jackson, Jessica Walradt, Bijal Desai, Mary Mulcahy, Aparna Kalyan, Al B. Benson, Mark Agulnik, Nisha Mohindra, Jonas DeSouza, Sofia F. Garcia

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

PURPOSE National organizations encourage communication about costs of cancer care; however, few data are available on health system models for identifying and assisting patients with financial distress (FD). We report the feasibility and acceptability of a financial counseling (FC) intervention for patients who receive chemotherapy at a comprehensive cancer center. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to FC or standard care. The FC arm received education, financial assistance screening, and an estimation tool with total billed charges and out-of-pocket (OOP) cost of one cycle of chemotherapy from a financial counselor through phone call and in-person visit. Participants completed measures of FD, health-related quality of life, and acceptability. RESULTS Ninety-five participants enrolled (mean age, 61 years; 72% white; 50% commercially insured), with a 32% attrition rate between assessments. Rates of completion for the phone call, in-person, and entire intervention were 98%, 47%, and 30%, respectively. The OOP estimation tool was considered understandable and acceptable to the majority of participants. No significant changes in FD were found between arms. Emotional functioning was negatively associated with having high FD (95% CI, 20.13379 to 20.013; P = .0189). Being married was associated with a decrease in log-odds of having high FD (b = 21.916; 95% CI, 23.358 to 20.475; P = .0092). CONCLUSION Implementation of an FC program that provides transparent cost data is feasible and acceptable. Incorporation of FC into clinical workflow, including phone counseling, is important to improve feasibility. Additional work is needed to develop tailored educational materials that are patient specific.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)E202-E210
JournalJournal of oncology practice
Volume15
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2019

Funding

ACKNOWLEDGMENT Supported by the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Cancer Survivorship Institute of Northwestern University.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Oncology(nursing)
  • Health Policy

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