Understanding the strategies rural cancer patients and survivors use to manage financial toxicity and the broader implications on their lives

Lived experience of out-of-pocket costs of health care and medicines by people with chronic conditions and their families in Australia: a systematic review of the qualitative literature

BACKGROUND

Despite Australia's universal health insurance scheme, Medicare, out-of-pocket costs (OOPC) for health care comprises 14 % of total health expenditure. People with chronic conditions spend a greater proportion of their incomes on health care than people without a chronic condition.

OBJECTIVE

To review the qualitative literature examining experiences of OOPC of out-of-hospital care by people with chronic conditions and to discuss this in relation to current Australian health policy.

METHODS

Systematic review and narrative synthesis of the qualitative literature examining OOPC for people with chronic conditions in Australia. Search: Pubmed, CINAHL Complete, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO and EconLit databases from 1999 to 10th April 2025.

RESULTS

37 studies met the inclusion criteria. Reduced or lost employment due to ill-health led to income loss, aggravating the financial burden of health management. While many people were able to access bulk-billing general practitioners, challenges in affording upfront and copayments for medical and allied health consultations, and medication costs were reported. Cost was the greatest barrier to accessing dental care. Trade-offs were described between health management and meeting basic living needs, particularly for people who earned too much to qualify for government welfare payments.

CONCLUSION

While Australian health policies effectively reduce the financial burden of health care for many people, distinct challenges exist for groups ineligible for concessional thresholds. Future research to identify the priorities and preferences of people with chronic conditions can further inform policy to improve the equity of health financing in Australia.

Implementation strategies of financial navigation and its effects on alleviating financial toxicity among cancer survivors: a systematic review

PURPOSE

This systematic review aims to identify the implementation strategies of financial navigation and systematically synthesise its effects on mitigating financial toxicity among cancer survivors, based on the theoretical framework of implementation science.

METHODS

Medline, Web of Science Core Collection, ScienceDirect and ProQuest Health & Medical Collection databases were searched for studies published before 22 August 2023. We sought original research on financial navigation interventions among adult cancer survivors with financial toxicity in healthcare settings. The Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomised trials, 2.0 and the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies of Interventions-I were used to assess the risk of bias in included studies. In addition, the implementation strategies of the included studies were categorised and collated based on Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change, and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research was adopted to explain barriers and facilities for implementation.

RESULTS

In total, 6855 records were screened, yielding 14 full-text articles, which were included (3 randomised clinical trials and 11 non-randomised studies). 'Train and educate stakeholders' (n=13 (92.9%)) and 'use evaluative and iterative strategies' (n=12 (85.7%)) were the most common implementation strategies in financial navigation. The feasibility of financial navigation is relatively high, but generally hindered by the health condition of cancer survivors, low willingness to participate and insufficient number of navigators to cover all participants. After the intervention, three of seven studies reported statistically significant mitigations in patient-reported financial toxicity. In studies reporting statistically significant outcomes, 'adapt and tailor to the context' and 'change infrastructure' were proposed as key corresponding recommendations.

CONCLUSIONS

Financial navigation is a potentially beneficial intervention for lessening the financial toxicity of cancer survivors, but more high-level evidence is needed for further validation. Financial navigation combined with the theoretical framework of implementation science provides a foundation for the future realisation of the leap from knowledge to practice.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42023469114.

Strategies for Mitigating Cancer-Related Financial Toxicity in China: A Multiperspective Qualitative Study Based on the Socioecological Framework

PURPOSE

To explore strategies related to cancer-related financial toxicity (FT) from the perspectives of cancer survivors and stakeholders in China and to evaluate their views within the context of the social ecological model (SEM).

METHODS

Between March and July 2022, we conducted a descriptive qualitative study with semistructured interviews of 23 cancer survivors and 14 stakeholders. Qualitative content analysis on the basis of the SEM was used to analyze the data with NVivo 12.

RESULTS

Guided by the SEM, we identified 12 subthemes that described how to mitigate FT. Individual-level strategies included increasing cost-related health literacy, strengthening adherence to standardized treatments, and improving resilience to cancer and financial changes. Interpersonal-level strategies included strengthening family support and social networks. Organizational-level strategies included using evidence-based treatments, effective communication of costs, and providing financial information support. Community-level strategies included improving symptom management throughout survivorship and providing psychosocial support. Policy-level strategies included optimizing health insurance policies and promoting collaboration among medical institutions.

CONCLUSION

Our findings provide a comprehensive understanding of strategies pertaining to FT, offering insights that could support the development of future interventions. This research suggests that interventions that encompass multiple levels-individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and policy-rather than focusing on only one level might be the most beneficial for managing FT.

Financial Toxicity Experiences of Patients With Cancer in Indonesia: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis

OBJECTIVES

Financial toxicity (FT) is an important adverse effect of cancer. Recent systematic reviews have shown that FT may lead to treatment nonadherence and impaired health-related quality of life, both of which may adversely influence the survival rates of patients. However, less is known about how patients endure FT, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The purpose of this study was to explore how patients with cancer experience and cope with FT in Indonesia.

METHODS

Semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted to explore the experiences of Indonesian patients with cancer. Qualitative data were analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis approach. We purposefully recruited 8 patients undergoing active treatment (aged 27-69 years) who had been diagnosed of cancer over 5 years before and possessed health insurance at the time of diagnosis.

RESULTS

We identified 2 main themes: (1) the experienced financial burden, with subthemes underinsurance, out-of-pocket nonhealthcare cancer-related costs, and negative income effect from employment disruption, and (2) the financial coping strategies, with subthemes reallocating household budget, seeking family support, rationalizing treatment decisions, and topping up insurance for family members.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first interpretive phenomenological study on FT in the literature and the first qualitative FT study in Indonesia. Our findings provide insight into the occurrence of FT and coping strategies used by Indonesian patients with cancer. The subjective experiences of patients may be considered to further improve oncology care, support the need for measurement of FT, and provide mitigation programs for patients.

Availability and accessibility of services to address financial toxicity described by Australian lung cancer patients and healthcare professionals

PURPOSE

Although the financial burden and impact of a cancer diagnosis has been widely described in international literature, less understood is the availability and accessibility of services to ameliorate this need. This study reports the experiences of Australian lung cancer patients and health professionals delivering care, regarding factors that exacerbate and mitigate financial stress, and availability and accessibility of services to support people following a cancer diagnosis.

METHODS

Qualitative semi-structured interviews with twenty-three lung cancer patients attending two metropolitan tertiary health services and eleven health professionals delivering care were undertaken during July-August 2021.

RESULTS

Neither health service systematically screened for financial toxicity nor routinely provided information regarding potential financial impacts during consultations. Patients experienced lengthy delays in accessing welfare supports, provoking financial stress and worry. Health professionals reported limited resources and referral services to support patients with financial need; this was especially problematic for patients with lung cancer. They described its psychological impact on patients and their family members or carers and warned of its impact on ability to adhere to treatment.

CONCLUSION

Available and accessibility of services addressing financial toxicity in Australian lung cancer patients is inadequate. Although financial stress is a common, distressing problem, health professionals feel hampered in their ability to help due to limited service availability. Left unaddressed, financial toxicity can impact treatment adherence, directly influencing health outcomes, and increase risk of poverty, amplifying social inequities. Findings highlight opportunity for actionable interventions like financial consent and routine screening and discussion of financial toxicity across care pathways.

Facing financial barriers to healthcare: patient-informed adaptation of a conceptual framework for adults with a history of cancer

Background

Cancer-related financial hardship is associated with negative clinical outcomes, which may be partially explained by cost-related delayed or forgone care in response to financial barriers. We sought to understand patient experiences facing financial barriers to medical care following a cancer diagnosis.

Methods

We conducted virtual, semi-structured interviews in Fall 2022 with 20 adults with a history of cancer who had experienced cancer-related financial hardship in the prior year. We used template analysis within a pragmatic paradigm, combining constructivist and critical realist theoretical perspectives, to analyze interview transcripts and adapt an existing conceptual framework of financial barriers to care.

Results

The majority of interviewees identified as women (70%), non-Hispanic white (60%), and reported an annual household income of <$48,000 (60%). As interviewees sought to overcome financial barriers, they described substantial frustration at the limitations and complexities of United States health and social care systems, resulting in a reliance on a fragmented, uncertain resource landscape. The administrative burden resulting from bureaucratic systems and the advocacy responsibilities required to navigate them ultimately fell on interviewees and their caregivers. Thus, participants described their ability to overcome financial barriers as being influenced by individual and interpersonal factors, such as social support, comfort asking for help, time, prior experience navigating resources, and physical and mental health. However, participants noted health system organizational factors, such as whether all new patients proactively met with a social worker or financial navigator, as having the potential to lessen the administrative and financial burden experienced.

Conclusion

We present an adapted conceptual framework outlining multi-level factors influencing patient experiences coping with financial barriers to medical care. In addition to influencing whether a patient ultimately delays or forgoes care due to cost, financial barriers also have the potential to independently affect patient mental, physical, and financial health.

Financial toxicity assessment and associated factors analysis of patients with cancer in China

PURPOSE

Cancer-related expenditures present a lasting economic burden on patients and their families and may exert long-term adverse effects on the patients' life and quality of life. In this study, the comprehensive score for financial toxicity (COST) was used to investigate the financial toxicity (FT) levels and related risk factors in Chinese patients with cancer.

METHODS

Quantitative data were collected through a questionnaire covering three aspects: sociodemographic information, economic and behavioral cost-coping strategies, and the COST scale. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with FT.

RESULTS

According to 594 completed questionnaires, the COST score ranged 0-41, with a median of 18 (mean±SD, 17.98±7.978). Over 80% of patients with cancer reported at least moderate FT (COST score <26). A multivariate model showed that urban residents, coverage by other health insurance policies, and higher household income and consumption expenditures were significantly associated with higher COST scores, indicative of lower FT. The middle-aged (45-59 years old), higher out-of-pocket (OOP) medication expenditures and hospitalizations, borrowed money, and forgone treatment were all significantly associated with lower COST scores, indicating higher FT.

CONCLUSION

Severe FT was associated with sociodemographic factors among Chinese patients with cancer, family financial factors, and economic and behavioral cost-coping strategies. Government should identify and manage the patients with high-risk characteristics of FT and work out better health policies for them.

Medical treatment decision-making in rural cancer patients: A qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis

OBJECTIVE

Rural cancer patients have unique care needs which may impact upon treatment decision-making. Our aim was to conduct a qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis to understand their perspectives and experiences of making treatment decisions.

METHODS

A systematic search of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and RURAL was conducted for qualitative studies in rural cancer patients regarding treatment decision-making. Articles were screened for relevance, and data from the included articles were extracted and analysed using meta-thematic synthesis.

RESULTS

Twelve studies were included, with 4 themes and 9 subthemes identified. Many studies reported patients were not given a choice regarding their treatment. Choice, if given, was influenced by personal factors such as finances, proximity to social supports, convenience, and their personal values. Patients were also influenced by the opinions of others and cultural norms. Finally, it was reported that patients made choices in the context of seeking the best possible medical care and the patient-clinician relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

In the rural context, there are universal and unique factors that influence the treatment decisions of cancer patients.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Our findings are an important consideration for clinicians when engaging in shared decision-making, as well as for policymakers, to understand and accommodate the unique rural perspective.

Living in Rural Areas and Receiving Cancer Treatment Away From Home: A Qualitative Study Foregrounding Temporality

We used explorative interviews to gauge (inter)personal, physiological, and emotional challenges of seven rural cancer patients who traveled long distances to cancer treatment centers. After a thematic analysis, we foregrounded experiences of temporality by using a phenomenologically inspired approach. The analysis resulted in three themes: (a) An epiphany of “what really matters in life”—time gains new meaning, (b) Feeling out of sync with others and own body—striving for coherence and simultaneity, and (c) Being torn between benefits of home and treatments site—time and distance as a tangible aspect of traveling and being away. Under these themes, 13 meaning units were generated, which reflected changes in temporality. During treatment, life primarily revolved around repeating circles of travel arrangements, staying on top of treatment schedule, and synchronizing a home life with a life away from home. Nurses should provide comprehensive care to enhance stability in cancer patients’ temporal experiences.

Financial toxicity in cancer care: origins, impact, and solutions

Financial toxicity describes the financial burden and distress that can arise for patients, and their family members, as a result of cancer treatment. It includes direct out-of-pocket costs for treatment and indirect costs such as travel, time, and changes to employment that can increase the burden of cancer. While high costs of cancer care have threatened the sustainability of access to care for decades, it is only in the past 10 years that the term "financial toxicity" has been popularized to recognize that the financial burdens of care can be just as important as the physical toxicities traditionally associated with cancer therapy. The past decade has seen a rapid growth in research identifying the prevalence and impact of financial toxicity. Research is now beginning to focus on innovations in screening and care delivery that can mitigate this risk. There is a need to determine the optimal strategy for clinicians and cancer centers to address costs of care in order to minimize financial toxicity, promote access to high value care, and reduce health disparities. We review the evolution of concerns over costs of cancer care, the impact of financial burdens on patients, methods to screen for financial toxicity, proposed solutions, and priorities for future research to identify and address costs that threaten the health and quality of life for many patients with cancer.