Financial toxicity: a potential side effect of prostate cancer treatment among Australian men

Financial toxicity of informal caregivers of colorectal cancer patients: A cross-sectional study

PURPOSE

To assess the level of financial toxicity of informal caregivers of colorectal cancer patients and explore the related key influencing factors.

METHOD

A descriptive survey design was used in this study. Data were collected from 236 informal caregivers of colorectal cancer patients between March 2023 and July 2023 from a major hospital in central China (Henan province). Potential influence factors of financial toxicity, including basic information, perceived stress, and social support were analyzed using multivariate linear regression.

RESULTS

The financial toxicity score of 236 caregivers of colorectal cancer patients was 19.42 ± 9.72. One hundred and fourteen caregivers (accounting for 48.31%) of colorectal cancer patients had high levels of financial toxicity. Financial toxicity scores of caregivers were negatively correlated with perceived stress (r = -0.421, P < 0.001) and positively correlated with social support (r = 0.416, P < 0.001). Our multivariate regression analysis identified some factors that directly affected caregivers' financial toxicity, including caregiver age (t = 2.105, P = 0.036), medical insurance (t = 2.462, P = 0.015), average household income (t = 2.995, P = 0.003), place of residence (t = 2.872, P = 0.004), perceived stress (t = -4.945, P < 0.001), and social support (t = 4.513, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Caregivers of colorectal cancer patients generally experience a higher level of financial toxicity, which could be eased by lower perceived stress and higher social support. In clinical practice, it is necessary to comprehensively assess the level of financial toxicity of particular caregivers and enact targeted interventions such as increasing communication and actively providing information to address the high medical costs, reducing the detrimental effects of financial toxicity, and improving the quality of colorectal cancer care.

The impact of management option on out-of-pocket costs and perceived financial burden among men with localised prostate cancer in Australia within 6 months of diagnosis

Objective This study aimed to quantify the out-of-pocket (OOP) costs and perceived financial burden among Australian men with localised prostate cancer in the first 6 months after diagnosis, by primary management option. Methods This cost-analysis quantified OOP costs using administrative claims data and self-reported survey data. Financial burden was assessed using the COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity-Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (COST-FACIT) tool. Participants were recruited into a randomised control trial from public or private treatment centres in Victoria and Queensland. Generalised linear models were used to predict OOP costs and COST-FACIT scores. Results Median total OOP costs within 6 months of diagnosis for 256 Australian patients with localised prostate cancer was A$1172 (A$343-2548). Up to 50% of the sample reported A$0 costs for most medical services. Compared with those managed with active surveillance, men having active treatment had 6.4 (95% CI: 3.2-12.7) times greater total OOP costs. Management option, higher Gleason score at diagnosis and having multiple comorbidities were significant predictors of higher OOP costs. Overall high scores on the COST-FACIT indicated low levels of financial burden for the entire sample. Conclusion Largely attributable to being managed with active surveillance, Australian men diagnosed with localised prostate cancer reported relatively low OOP costs and financial burden in the first 6 months post-diagnosis. Together with clinical outcomes, clinicians can use this up to date evidence on costs and perceived financial burdens to assist localised prostate cancer patients and their families make informed decisions about their preferred management option.

Describing financial toxicity among cancer patients in different income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

There is limited evidence of financial toxicity (FT) among cancer patients from countries of various income levels. Hence, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of objective and subjective FT and their measurements in relation to cancer treatment.

Methods

PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and CINAHL databases were searched to find studies that examined FT. There was no limit on the design or setting of the study. Random-effects meta-analysis was utilized to obtain the pooled prevalence of objective FT.

Results

Out of 244 identified studies during the initial screening, only 64 studies were included in this review. The catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) method was often used in the included studies to determine the objective FT. The pooled prevalence of CHE was 47% (95% CI: 24.0-70.0) in middle- and high-income countries, and the highest percentage was noted in low-income countries (74.4%). A total of 30 studies focused on subjective FT, of which 9 used the Comprehensive Score for FT (COST) tool and reported median scores ranging between 17.0 and 31.9.

Conclusion

This study shows that cancer patients from various income-group countries experienced a significant financial burden during their treatment. It is imperative to conduct further studies on interventions and policies that can lower FT caused by cancer treatment.

Disease mapping: Geographic differences in population rates of interventional treatment for prostate cancer in Australia

BACKGROUND

Treatment decisions for men diagnosed with prostate cancer depend on a range of clinical and patient characteristics such as disease stage, age, general health, risk of side effects and access. Associations between treatment patterns and area-level factors such as remoteness and socioeconomic disadvantage have been observed in many countries.

OBJECTIVE

To model spatial differences in interventional treatment rates for prostate cancer at high spatial resolution to inform policy and decision-making.

METHODS

Hospital separations data for interventional treatments for prostate cancer (radical prostatectomy, low dose rate and high dose rate brachytherapy) for men aged 40 years and over were modelled using spatial models, generalised linear mixed models, maximised excess events tests and k-means statistical clustering.

RESULTS

Geographic differences in population rates of interventional treatments were found (p<0.001). Separation rates for radical prostatectomy were lower in remote areas (12.2 per 10 000 person-years compared with 15.0-15.9 in regional and major city areas). Rates for all treatments decreased with increasing socioeconomic disadvantage (radical prostatectomy 19.1 /10 000 person-years in the most advantaged areas compared with 12.9 in the most disadvantaged areas). Three groups of similar areas were identified: those with higher rates of radical prostatectomy, those with higher rates of low dose brachytherapy, and those with low interventional treatment rates but higher rates of excess deaths. The most disadvantaged areas and remote areas tended to be in the latter group.

CONCLUSIONS

The geographic differences in treatment rates may partly reflect differences in patients' physical and financial access to treatments. Treatment rates also depend on diagnosis rates and thus reflect variation in investigation rates for prostate cancer and presentation of disease. Spatial variation in interventional treatments may aid identification of areas of under-treatment or over-treatment.

The impact of adding cost information to a conversation aid to support shared decision making about low-risk prostate cancer treatment: Results of a stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial

BACKGROUND

Decision aids help patients consider the benefits and drawbacks of care options but rarely include cost information. We assessed the impact of a conversation-based decision aid containing information about low-risk prostate cancer management options and their relative costs.

METHODS

We conducted a stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial in outpatient urology practices within a US-based academic medical center. We randomised five clinicians to four intervention sequences and enroled patients newly diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer. Primary patient-reported outcomes collected postvisit included the frequency of cost conversations and referrals to address costs. Other patient-reported outcomes included: decisional conflict postvisit and at 3 months, decision regret at 3 months, shared decision-making postvisit, financial toxicity postvisit and at 3 months. Clinicians reported their attitudes about shared decision-making pre- and poststudy, and the intervention's feasibility and acceptability. We used hierarchical regression analysis to assess patient outcomes. The clinician was included as a random effect; fixed effects included education, employment, telehealth versus in-person visit, visit date, and enrolment period.

RESULTS

Between April 2020 and March 2022, we screened 513 patients, contacted 217 eligible patients, and enroled 117/217 (54%) (51 in usual care, 66 in the intervention group). In adjusted analyses, the intervention was not associated with cost conversations (β = .82, p = .27), referrals to cost-related resources (β = -0.36, p = .81), shared decision-making (β = -0.79, p = .32), decisional conflict postvisit (β = -0.34, p= .70), or at follow-up (β = -2.19, p = .16), decision regret at follow-up (β = -9.76, p = .11), or financial toxicity postvisit (β = -1.32, p = .63) or at follow-up (β = -2.41, p = .23). Most clinicians and patients had positive attitudes about the intervention and shared decision-making. In exploratory unadjusted analyses, patients in the intervention group experienced more transient indecision (p < .02) suggesting increased deliberation between visit and follow-up.

DISCUSSION

Despite enthusiasm from clinicians, the intervention was not significantly associated with hypothesised outcomes, though we were unable to robustly test outcomes due to recruitment challenges. Recruitment at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic impacted eligibility, sample size/power, study procedures, and increased telehealth visits and financial worry, independent of the intervention. Future work should explore ways to support shared decision-making, cost conversations, and choice deliberation with a larger sample. Such work could involve additional members of the care team, and consider the detail, quality, and timing of addressing these issues.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

Patients and clinicians were engaged as stakeholder advisors meeting monthly throughout the duration of the project to advise on the study design, measures selected, data interpretation, and dissemination of study findings.

The interaction of financial toxicity and social support on social functioning in post-chemotherapy breast cancer patients: a cross-sectional study

PURPOSE

To explore the correlation between financial toxicity, social support, and social functioning in post-chemotherapy breast cancer patients, as well as any possible interaction of financial toxicity and social support on social functioning.

METHODS

Post-chemotherapy breast cancer patients admitted to the thyroid and breast surgery departments of three first-class general hospitals in East China from December 2020 to January 2022 were recruited by convenience sampling for a cross-sectional survey. The survey instruments included the general information form, the comprehensive scores for financial toxicity based on the patient-reported outcome measures (COST-PROM), the social roles and activity participation subscale from the patient-reported outcomes measurement system-breast-chemotherapy (PROMS-B-C) (score range: 8-40), and the social support subscale from PROMS-B-C (score range: 16-80).

RESULTS

The results showed that low social functioning (low score) in post-chemotherapy breast cancer patients was positively correlated with high financial toxicity (low score) as well as poor economic resources (low score) and poor psychosocial responses (low score) (P<0.01) and negatively correlated with low economic expenditures (low score) (P<0.01); high social functioning (high score) was positively correlated with high social support (high score) (P<0.01). The interaction analysis results showed an additive interaction between financial toxicity and social support in social functioning.

CONCLUSION

There was an additive interaction of financial toxicity and social support in the social functioning of post-chemotherapy breast cancer patients. Those patients with high financial toxicity and low social support are the most likely to benefit from relevant intervention measures compared to other breast cancer populations.

Financial toxicity experienced by rural Australian families with chronic kidney disease

AIM

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its treatment places a financial burden on healthcare systems and households worldwide, yet little is known of its financial impact, on those who reside in rural settings. We aimed to quantify the financial impacts and out-of-pocket expenditure experienced by adult rural patients with CKD in Australia.

METHODS

A web based structured survey was completed between November 2020 and January 2021. English speaking participants over 18 years of age, diagnosed with CKD stages 3-5, those receiving dialysis or with a kidney transplant, who lived in a rural location in Australia.

RESULTS

In total 77 (69% completion rate) participated. The mean out of pocket expenses were 5056 AUD annually (excluding private health insurance costs), 78% of households experienced financial hardship with 54% classified as experiencing financial catastrophe (out-of-pocket expenditure greater than 10% of household income). Mean distances to access health services for all rural and remote classifications was greater than 50 kilometres for specialist nephrology services and greater than 300 kilometres for transplanting centres. Relocation for a period greater than 3 months to access care was experienced by 24% of participants.

CONCLUSION

Rural households experience considerable financial hardship due to out-of-pocket costs in accessing treatment for CKD and other health-related care, raising concerns about equity in Australia, a high-income country with universal healthcare.

Management of Prostate Cancer in Older Adults

The majority of men with prostate cancer are diagnosed when they are older than 65 years; however, clinical trial participants are disproportionately younger and more fit than the real-world population treated in typical clinical practices. It is, therefore, unknown whether the optimal approach to prostate cancer treatment is the same for older men as it is for younger and/or more fit men. Short screening tools can be used to efficiently assess frailty, functional status, life expectancy, and treatment toxicity risk. These risk assessment tools allow for targeted interventions to increase a patient's reserve and improve treatment tolerance, potentially allowing more men to experience the benefit of the significant recent treatment advances in prostate cancer. Treatment plans should also take into consideration each patient's individual goals and values considered within their overall health and social context to reduce barriers to care. In this review, we will discuss evidence-based risk assessment and decision tools for older men with prostate cancer, highlight intervention strategies to improve treatment tolerance, and contextualize these tools within the current treatment landscape for prostate cancer.

Communication of costs and financial burdens between cancer patients and healthcare providers: a qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to synthesize qualitative research regarding communication of costs and financial burdens between patients and healthcare providers to provide evidence for the subsequent development of intervention programs.

METHODS

Studies published prior to 11 February 2023 were collected from electronic databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, MEDLINE (Ovid), Web of Science, EMBASE (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCO), and ProQuest. A checklist for qualitative research drawn from the Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewer's Manual was applied to assess the quality of the included studies. Meta-aggregation was performed to synthesize the findings of the included studies.

RESULTS

Four synthesized findings were derived from 15 studies: cost communication offered more benefits than drawbacks, and most patients were willing to engage in cost communication; cost communication has been implemented in clinical practice but continued to face shortcomings and barriers; an expected cost communication should take into account timing, location, personnel, personality, and content; healthcare providers required education, information, tools, standardized processes, and policy and organizational support to increase their ability to deliver cost communication.

CONCLUSIONS

Cost communication can help optimize decision-making and reduce the risk of financial difficulties, as has been widely recognized by patients and healthcare providers. However, a complete clinical practice plan to facilitate cost communication has not yet been created.

'What price do you put on your health?': Medical cannabis, financial toxicity and patient perspectives on medication access in advanced cancer

INTRODUCTION

Following 2016 legislation permitting limited access to cannabis for research and medicinal purposes, the number of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) investigating the effectiveness of medicinal cannabis (MC) on symptom burden relief in cancer contexts has increased in Australia. This study aimed to understand the perceptions, hopes and concerns of people with advanced cancer regarding the future availability and regulation of MC in Australia.

METHODS

This qualitative study draws on semistructured interviews conducted between February 2019 and October 2020 in Brisbane, Australia, as part of an MC RCT substudy. Interviews were undertaken on 48 patients with advanced cancer in palliative care eligible to participate in an MC trial (n = 26 participated in an RCT; n = 2 participated in a pilot study; n = 20 declined). Interviews included a discussion of patients' decision-making regarding trial participation, concerns about MC and perceptions of future availability, including cost. Transcribed interviews were analysed inductively and abductively, informed by constructivist thematic analysis conventions.

RESULTS

Overall, participants supported making MC legally accessible as a prescription-only medication. Fear of financial toxicity, however, compromised this pathway. Steep posttrial costs of accessing MC prompted several people to decline trial participation, and others to predict-if found effective-that many would either access MC through alternative pathways or reduce their prescribed dosage to enable affordable access.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that-despite a relatively robust universal healthcare system-Australians are potentially vulnerable to and fearful of financial toxicity. Prevalent in the United States, financial toxicity occurs when disadvantaged cancer patients access necessary but expensive medications with lasting consequences: bankruptcy, ongoing anxiety and cancer worry. Interview transcripts indicate that financial fears-and the systems sustaining them-may pose a threat to RCT completion and to equitable access to legal MC. Such findings support calls for embedding qualitative substudies and community partnerships within RCTs, while also suggesting the importance of subsidisation to overcoming injustices.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

A patient advisory committee informed RCT design. This qualitative substudy foregrounds patients' decision-making, perceptions and experiences.

Discussing Cost and Value in Patient Decision Aids and Shared Decision Making: A Call to Action

Direct and indirect costs of care influence patients' health choices and the ability to implement those choices. Despite the significant impact of care costs on patients' health and daily lives, patient decision aid (PtDA) and shared decision-making (SDM) guidelines almost never mention a discussion of costs of treatment options as part of minimum standards or quality criteria. Given the growing study of the impact of costs in health decisions and the rising costs of care more broadly, in fall 2021 we organized a symposium at the Society for Medical Decision Making's annual meeting. The focus was on the role of cost information in PtDAs and SDM. Panelists gave an overview of work in this space at this virtual meeting, and attendees engaged in rich discussion with the panelists about the state of the problem as well as ideas and challenges in incorporating cost-related issues into routine care. This article summarizes and extends our discussion based on the literature in this area and calls for action. We recommend that PtDA and SDM guidelines routinely include a discussion of direct and indirect care costs and that researchers measure the frequency, quality, and response to this information.

A value-based approach to prostate cancer image-guidance in a regional radiation therapy centre: a cost-minimisation analysis

Background and objectives

Usual practice for the insertion of prostate fiducial markers involves at least one week delay between insertion and simulation. An evidence-based practice change was implemented whereby fiducial marker insertion occurred on the same day as radiotherapy simulation. The aim of this study was to quantify the health service costs and clinical outcomes associated with this practice change.

Methods

A cost-minimisation analysis was undertaken from the perspective of the local health service. A retrospective chart audit was conducted to collect data on 149 patients in the pre-implementation cohort and 138 patients in the post-implementation cohort. Associated costs with insertion and simulation were calculated and compared across the two cohorts; this included subsided travel costs for rural and remote patients. Fiducial marker positions on planning CT and first treatment CBCT were measured for all patients as the surrogate clinical outcome measure for oedema.

Results

The health service saved an average of AU$ 361 (CI $311 - $412) per patient after the practice change. There was no significant difference in fiducial marker position pre- and post- implementation (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The practice change to perform insertion and radiotherapy simulation on the same day resulted in substantial savings to the health system, without compromising clinical outcomes. The decrease in number of required patient attendances is of real consequence to rural and remote populations. The practice change increases both the value and accessibility of best-practice health care to those most at risk of missing out.

Measuring the indirect cost associated with advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a nationwide cross-sectional study in China

PURPOSE

This study was conducted to estimate the indirect cost of locally advanced and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without sensitizing EGFR and ALK alterations in China and explore the predictors from both patient and caregiver perspectives.

METHODS

Data were obtained from a nationwide cross-sectional study for the patients with advanced NSCLC (stage IIIB-IV) and their caregivers. Indirect medical cost was estimated as health productivity loss based on self-reported income and loss of work time. The generalized linear model was used to assess the independent associations between statistically significant variables and indirect economic burden.

RESULTS

611 pairs of patients and patient caregivers from 13 medical centers in five provinces in China participated in this investigation. The indirect medical cost associated with advanced NSCLC since the patient diagnosed was $1413 per capita in China. General linear regression results showed that the indirect medical cost was significantly influenced by duration of disease since diagnosis, treatment options, caregivers' occupation and age (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The indirect economic burden linked to advanced NSCLC in China is considerable on patients, and their caregivers. To minimize the severe challenges of indirect economic burden related to advanced NSCLC, expanding the coverage of the medical insurance and assistance system to reimburse part of the indirect costs related to cancer, as well as strengthening the accessibility for more effective therapies to improve the prognosis of advanced NSCLC, and further promote the patients and their caregivers to return to work or normal life may be the potentially feasible approaches.

Microcosting Study of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Prostate Cancer

OBJECTIVES

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has emerged as a promising imaging tool in prostate cancer diagnosis. PSMA PET/CT radiotracers are produced in-house (gallium-68, eg, ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA-11) or provided by commercial entities (fluorine-18, eg, ¹⁸F-DCFPyL). Nevertheless, the cost per procedure is not well established given that current estimates have several limitations. This study aimed to establish the cost of PSMA PET/CT in Australia.

METHODS

Hospitals and diagnostic facilities currently conducting PSMA PET/CT in Australia in metropolitan and regional areas completed a survey of PSMA PET/CT throughput, radiotracers involved, and the cost of assets, departmental staffing, consumables, and occupancy. Total costs were estimated using a top-down microcosting approach, involving identifying all relevant cost components and valuing each component for the average patient, and a gross costing approach, involving apportioning cost components at an aggregated level.

RESULTS

Data were collected from 8 facilities. The most common radiotracer used was ¹⁸F-DCFPyL (7 facilities, 87%), followed by ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA-11 (4 facilities, 50%). The average cost of PSMA PET/CT was A$1554.77 and A$1306.00 based on the microcosting and gross costing approaches, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a detailed and accurate estimation of the cost of PSMA PET/CT in Australia. These costs can be used as a benchmark to identify potential efficiencies and help policy makers set the appropriate reimbursement rate for this procedure. The use of data from facilities using different radiotracers in metropolitan and regional areas and with different throughput increases the generalizability of the results, especially in countries with similar health systems.

The economic impact of cancer diagnosis to individuals and their families: a systematic review

Background

The effect of a cancer diagnosis is wide-ranging with the potential to affect income, employment and risk of poverty. The aim of this systematic review is to identify the economic impact of a cancer diagnosis for patients and their families/caregivers.

Methods

The search covered peer-reviewed journals using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Epistemonikos and PsycINFO databases. Quality appraisal was undertaken using CASP tools. Monetary values were converted to US Dollars/2019 using a purchasing power parities (PPP) conversion factor. The review included articles up to and including January 2020, written in English language, for patients with cancer aged ≥ 18 years and focused on the costs up to 5 years following a cancer diagnosis.

Results

The search was run in January 2020 and updated in November 2021. Of the 7973 articles identified, 18 met the inclusion criteria. Studies were undertaken in the USA, Ireland, Canada, Australia, France, UK, Malaysia, Pakistan, China and Sri Lanka. The majority were cohort studies. Twelve reported out-of-pocket costs (range US$16–US$2523/month per patient/caregiver) consisting of medical expenses (e.g. surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy) and non-medical expenses (e.g. travel, food and childcare). Fourteen studies reported patient/caregiver loss of income and lost productivity (range 14–57.8%).

Conclusions

A high percentage of cancer patients and their families/caregivers experience out-of-pocket expenditure, loss of income and lost productivity. Future research is needed to observe the effects of continuing changes to healthcare policies and social protections on the economic burden among cancer patients and their families/caregivers.

An optimized prostate biopsy strategy in patients with a unilateral lesion on prostate magnetic resonance imaging avoids unnecessary biopsies

Purpose:

The introduction of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-targeted biopsy (TBx) besides systematic prostate biopsies has resulted in a discussion on what the optimal prostate biopsy strategy is. The ideal template has high sensitivity for clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa), while reducing the detection rate of clinically insignificant prostate cancer (iPCa). This study evaluates different biopsy strategies in patients with a unilateral prostate MRI lesion.

Methods:

Retrospective subgroup analysis of a prospectively managed database consisting of patients undergoing prostate biopsy in two academic centres. Patients with a unilateral lesion (PI-RADS ⩾ 3) on MRI were included for analysis. The primary objective was to evaluate the diagnostic performance for different biopsy approaches compared with bilateral systematic prostate biopsy (SBx) and TBx. Detection rates for csPCa (ISUP ⩾ 2), adjusted csPCa (ISUP ⩾ 3) and iPCa (ISUP = 1) were determined for SBx alone, TBx alone, contralateral SBx combined with TBx and ipsilateral SBx combined with TBx. A subgroup analysis was performed for biopsy-naive patients.

Results:

A total of 228 patients were included from October 2015 to September 2021. Prostate cancer (PCa) detection rate of combined SBx and TBx was 63.5% for csPCa, 35.5% for adjusted csPCa, and 14% for iPCa. The best performing alternative biopsy strategy was TBx and ipsilateral SBx, which reached a sensitivity of 98.6% (95% CI: 95.1–99.6) for csPCa and 98.8% (95% CI: 96.3–99.9) for adjusted csPCa, missing only 1.4% of csPCa, while reducing iPCa detection by 15.6% compared with SBx and TBx. TBx or SBx alone missed a significant amount of csPCa, with sensitivities of 90.3% (95% CI: 84.4–94.2) and 86.8% (95% CI: 80.4–91.4) for csPCa. Subgroup analysis on biopsy-naive patients showed similar results as the overall group.

Conclusion:

This study shows that performing TBx with ipsilateral SBx and omitting contralateral SBx is the optimal biopsy strategy in patients with a unilateral MRI lesion. With this strategy, a very limited amount of csPCa is missed and iPCa detection is reduced.

Men's preferences for image-guidance in prostate radiation therapy: A discrete choice experiment

INTRODUCTION

There are several options for real-time prostate monitoring during radiation therapy including fiducial markers (FMs) and transperineal ultrasound (TPUS). However, the patient experience for these procedures is very different. This study aimed to determine patient preferences around various aspects of prostate image-guidance, focusing on FMs and TPUS.

METHODS

A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was conducted, describing the image-guidance approach by: pain, cost, accuracy, side effects, additional appointments, and additional time. Participants were males with prostate cancer (PCa) and from the general Australian population. A DCE survey required participants to make hypothetical choices in each of 8 choice sets. Multinomial logit modelling and Latent Class Analysis (LCA) were used to analyse the responses. Marginal willingness to pay (mWTP) was calculated.

RESULTS

476 respondents completed the survey (236 PCa patients and 240 general population). The most important attributes for both cohorts were pain, cost and accuracy (p < 0.01). PCa patients were willing to pay more to avoid the worst pain than the general population, and willing to pay more for increased accuracy. LCA revealed 3 groups: 2 were focused more on the process-related attributes of pain and cost, and the third was focused on the clinical efficacy attributes of accuracy and side effects.

CONCLUSION

Both cohorts preferred less cost and pain and improved accuracy, with men with PCa valuing accuracy more than the general population. In addition to the clinical and technical evidence, radiation oncology centres should consider the preferences of patients when considering choice of image-guidance techniques.

Outcomes of older men receiving docetaxel for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Most men who die of prostate cancer are older than 70 years. The ChemoHormonal Therapy Versus Androgen Ablation Randomized Trial for Extensive Disease in Prostate Cancer (CHAARTED) randomized men of all ages with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) to receive androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with or without docetaxel demonstrating an overall survival (OS) benefit for docetaxel.

METHODS

In a post-hoc analysis of this trial, we assessed patient characteristics and OS in patients ≥70 years ("older men") versus <70 years ("younger men") with Cox proportional hazards models. In addition, we compared adverse events, therapy completion rate, and subsequent treatment patterns between these two groups using Chi-squared tests.

RESULTS

177 (22.4%) patients were ≥70 years. Docetaxel + ADT resulted in improved OS in both older and younger men (Hazard Ratio [HR] 0.45, 95%CI: 0.25-0.80 for older men; HR 0.71, 95%CI: 0.53-0.95 for younger men). This treatment benefit was seen for subgroups of older men with high volume disease (HR 0.43, 95%CI 0.23-0.79) and de novo metastatic disease (HR 0.36, 95%CI 0.19-0.69). A similar proportion of older and younger men completed six cycles of docetaxel (82.6% vs. 87.1%, p = 0.28). Rates of grade 3-5 adverse events were similar between older and younger men (36.8% vs. 26.8%, respectively, p = 0.069). The rate of any Grades 4-5 adverse events did not differ significantly between older and younger men (14.9% vs. 11.9%, respectively, p = 0.46). In the control arm, a smaller proportion of older men received subsequent cancer treatments (34.4% vs. 51.5%, p = 0.017) or subsequent docetaxel (25.6% vs. 37.6%, p = 0.035) compared to younger men.

CONCLUSIONS

Older men with mHSPC had similar OS benefit and clinical outcomes compared to younger men when receiving docetaxel + ADT. Oncologists should consider docetaxel chemotherapy as a favorable treatment option for older men with mHSPC who are fit for chemotherapy.

Current treatment options for newly diagnosed metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer-a narrative review

Prostate cancer continues to be one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in men globally and a leading cause of male cancer deaths. The landscape of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer has significantly changed over the past decade. For many years, androgen deprivation therapy alone through surgical or chemical castration was the mainstay of treatment yielding limited 5-year survival rates. New treatment approaches using Docetaxel chemotherapy or androgen receptor pathway inhibitors to intensify upfront systemic therapy have resulted in significantly improved survival rates compared to androgen deprivation therapy alone. Clinicians are now equipped with an arsenal of drugs capable of prolonging life for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer patients. Furthermore, new treatment modalities are being tested in clinical trials making treatment of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer an extremely dynamic space. In this narrative review, we provide an overview of the key systemic treatments for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, namely androgen deprivation therapy, novel androgen receptor pathway inhibitors and Docetaxel. We summarise a series of landmark trials that have led to the integration of novel androgen receptor pathway inhibitors and docetaxel into the treatment paradigm for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. Lastly, we discuss nursing, financial and side-effect considerations pertaining to the use of these drugs. This article aims to give its readers an understanding of the evidence and clinical aspects of novel therapies in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer as they become increasingly available for use around the world.

Patient-Reported Financial Distress in Cancer: A Systematic Review of Risk Factors in Universal Healthcare Systems

Simple Summary

A comprehensive understanding of risk factors associated with experiencing subjective financial distress is needed to inform the development of valid instruments and effective interventions to tackle financial toxicity. Several studies from the US indicate a strong correlation of the US-healthcare system’s systematic organisation and its particular socioeconomic risk factors for cancer patients experiencing financial toxicity. It is assumed that risk factors differ in other high-income countries due to the different structure of universal healthcare coverage. As an exhaustive analysis for other countries is lacking, this review aims to identify risk factors for subjective financial distress in universal healthcare systems.

Abstract

Financial toxicity is a side effect of cancer that results from the perceived financial distress an individual may experience in the course of the disease. The purpose of this paper is to analyse underlying factors related to subjective financial distress in high-income countries with universal healthcare coverage. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify qualitative and quantitative studies of cancer patient-reported subjective financial distress by performing a search in the databases of PubMed, PsycINFO and CINAHL up to December 2020. A qualitative synthesis was performed linking the time-dependent occurrence of risk factors to derived categories of risk factors. Out of 4321 identified records, 30 quantitative and 16 qualitative studies were eligible. Classification of risk factors resulted in eight categories with a total of 34 subcategories. Subjective financial distress is primarily determined by pre-diagnosis sociodemographic- factors as well as financial and work factors that might change during the course of the disease. The design of healthcare and social security systems shapes the country-specific degree of subjective financial distress. Further research should focus on evolving multidisciplinary intervention schemes and multidimensional instruments for subjective financial distress to account for identified risk factors in universal healthcare systems more precisely.

Out-of-pocket medical expenses compared across five years for patients with one of five common cancers in Australia

Background

Patient medical out-of-pocket expenses are thought to be rising worldwide yet data describing trends over time is scant. We evaluated trends of out-of-pocket expenses for patients in Australia with one of five major cancers in the first-year after diagnosis.

Methods

Participants from the QSKIN Sun and Health prospective cohort Study with a histologically confirmed breast, colorectal, lung, melanoma, or prostate cancer diagnosed between 2011 and 2015 were included (n = 1965). Medicare claims data on out-of-pocket expenses were analysed using a two-part model adjusted for year of diagnosis, health insurance status, age and education level. Fisher price and quantity indexes were also calculated to assess prices and volumes separately.

Results

On average, patients with cancer diagnosed in 2015 spent 70% more out-of-pocket on direct medical expenses than those diagnosed in 2011. Out-of-pocket expenses increased significantly for patients with breast cancer (mean AU$2513 in 2011 to AU$6802 in 2015). Out-of-pocket expenses were higher overall for individuals with private health insurance. For prostate cancer, expenses increased for those without private health insurance over time (mean AU$1586 in 2011 to AU$4748 in 2014) and remained stable for those with private health insurance (AU$4397 in 2011 to AU$5623 in 2015). There were progressive increases in prices and quantities of medical services for patients with melanoma, breast and lung cancer. For all cancers, prices increased for medicines and doctor attendances but fluctuated for other medical services.

Conclusion

Out-of-pocket expenses for patients with cancer have increased substantially over time. Such increases were more pronounced for women with breast cancer and those without private health insurance. Increased out-of-pocket expenses arose from both higher prices and higher volumes of health services but differ by cancer type. Further efforts to monitor patient out-of-pocket costs and prevent health inequities are required.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-08756-x.

Navigating the high costs of cancer care: opportunities for patient engagement

Over the past decade, the financial burden of cancer care on patients and their families has garnered increased attention. Many of the potential solutions have focused on system-level interventions such as adopting value-based payment models and negotiating drug prices; less consideration has been given to actions at the patient level to address cancer care costs. We argue that it is imperative to develop and support patient-level strategies that engage patients and consider their preferences, values and individual circumstances. Opportunities to meet these aims and improve the economic experience of patients in oncology are discussed, including: shared decision-making and communication, financial navigation and treatment planning, digital technology and alternative care pathways, and value-based insurance design.

Cost talk: protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial of an intervention helping patients and urologic surgeons discuss costs of care for slow-growing prostate cancer during shared decision-making

BACKGROUND

Costs of care are important to patients making cancer treatment decisions, but clinicians often do not feel prepared to discuss treatment costs. We aim to (1) assess the impact of a conversation-based decision aid (Option Grid) containing cost information about slow-growing prostate cancer management options, combined with urologic surgeon training, on the frequency and quality of patient-urologic surgeon cost conversations, and (2) examine the impact of the decision aid and surgeon training on decision quality.

METHODS

We will conduct a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial in outpatient urology practices affiliated with a large academic medical center in the USA. We will randomize five urologic surgeons to four intervention sequences and enroll their patients with a first-time diagnosis of slow-growing prostate cancer independently at each period. Primary outcomes include frequency of cost conversations, initiator of cost conversations, and whether or not a referral is made to address costs. These outcomes will be collected by patient report (post-visit survey) and by observation (audio-recorded clinic visits) with consent. Other outcomes include the following: patient-reported decisional conflict post-visit and at 3-month follow-up, decision regret at 3-month follow-up, shared decision-making post-visit, communication post-visit, and financial toxicity post-visit and at 3-month follow-up; clinician-reported attitudes about shared decision-making before and after the study, and feasibility of sustained intervention use. We will use hierarchical regression analysis to assess patient-level outcomes, including urologic surgeon as a random effect to account for clustering of patient participants.

DISCUSSION

This study evaluates a two-part intervention to improve cost discussions between urologic surgeons and patients when deciding how to manage slow-growing prostate cancer. Establishing the effectiveness of the strategy under study will allow for its replication in other clinical decision contexts.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04397016 . Registered on 21 May 2020.

A cross-sectional analysis of out-of-pocket expenses for people living with a cancer in rural and outer metropolitan Western Australia

Objective To determine the extent of medical and non-medical out-of-pocket expenses (OOPE) among regional/rural and outer metropolitan Western Australian patients diagnosed with cancer, and the factors associated with higher costs. Methods Cross-sectional data were collected from adult patients living in four regional/rural areas and two outer metropolitan regions in Western Australia who had been diagnosed with breast, prostate, colorectal or lung cancer. Consenting participants were mailed demographic and financial questionnaires, and requested to report all OOPE related to their cancer treatment. Results The median total OOPE reported by 308 regional/rural participants and 119 outer metropolitan participants were A$1518 (interquartile range (IQR): A$581-A$3769) and A$2855 (IQR: A$958-A$7142) respectively. Participants most likely to experience higher total OOPE were younger than 65 years of age, male, resided in the outer metropolitan area, worked prior to diagnosis, had private health insurance, were in a relationship, and underwent surgery. Multivariate analysis of regional/rural participants revealed that receiving care at a rural cancer centre was associated with significantly lower non-medical OOPE (estimated mean A$805, 95% confidence interval (CI): A$735-A$875, P=0.038; compared with other rural participants (A$1347, 95% CI: A$743-A$1951, P<0.001)). Conclusion The cancer patients who participated in this study experienced variation in OOPE, with outer metropolitan participants reporting higher OOPE compared with their regional/rural counterparts. There is a need for cost transparency and access to care close to home, so that patients can make informed choices about where to receive their care. What is known about the topic? In recent years, OOPE for health care in general and cancer in particular have been widely debated by consumers and not-for-profit organisations; the topic has attracted much political attention because it affects both equity and access to care and has wider financial implications for the community. Research studies and reports from both consumer organisations and a Ministerial Advisory Committee found that cancer patients can face exorbitant out-of-pocket costs, and that individuals with private health insurance and those with prostate and breast cancer reported higher costs. In Western Australia, a cancer centre providing comprehensive cancer care was established in the second most populous region to ameliorate the high costs for travel and accommodation that regional cancer patients are known to experience. What does this paper add? This study is unique because it collected detailed cost information from patients and reports on the OOPE of regional/rural and outer metropolitan Western Australian patients receiving care for one of the four most common cancers; it therefore offers novel insight into the experiences of these groups. This study demonstrates that outer metropolitan cancer patients are experiencing much higher OOPE compared with regional/rural cancer patients. Additionally, regional/rural study participants who accessed a Regional Cancer Centre experienced significantly lower non-medical OOPE, compared with regional/rural study participants receiving care elsewhere. What are the implications for practitioners? First, there is a need for improved communication of OOPE to minimise costs to the patient, for example, by facilitating access to local cancer care. Health service providers and insurance companies can improve cost transparency for cancer patients by making this information more readily available, allowing patients to make informed financial choices about where to seek care. Second, the needs of working patients deserve specific attention. These patients face significant work uncertainty and additional distress following a cancer diagnosis.

The Economic Impact on Australian Patients with Neuroendocrine Tumours

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Little is known about the economic burden to patients and families with neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) for medical out-of-pocket expenses and employment decisions. This study was performed to determine the extent and factors influencing the financial consequences of living with NETs and their effect on quality of life.

METHODS

We undertook an online cross-sectional survey using a targeted approach and collected Australian Medicare claims data. Validated surveys measured health-related quality of life (EuroQol 5-dimension 5-level [EuroQol-5D-5L]) and financial toxicity (COmprehenSive Financial Toxicity [COST]), supplemented with questions on employment and retirement, insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. Generalised linear models were performed to assess determinants of quality of life and out-of-pocket expenses recorded by Medicare.

RESULTS

The survey was answered by 204 patients with a mean age of 59 years who were diagnosed on average 5.2 years ago. Self-reported mean costs were 1698 Australian dollars ($A) (standard deviation [SD] $A2132) over 3 months (median $A877) and were highest for medical tests (mean $A376 [17% of total costs], SD $A722), travel-related expenses (mean $A289 [13%], SD $A559), and specialist visits (mean $A225 [10%], SD $A342) ($A1 = $US0.69). Imaging scans, surgery and travel expenses were the most common cost burdens reported by patients. Having private health insurance was the key determinant of higher out-of-pocket costs. Poorer quality of life was significantly associated with higher financial toxicity, not working due to cancer, nausea/diarrhoea, two or more co-morbidities and younger age.

CONCLUSIONS

Medical expenses are substantial for some patients with NETs. Quality of life is adversely affected for patients experiencing financial toxicity and avoiding early retirement is an important issue for supportive care services.

Burden of Treatment among Elderly Patients with Cancer: A Scoping Review

Background: The objective of this scoping review is to understand how treatment burden is experienced in elderly patients with cancer and what the most prevalent dimensions of treatment burden are among this population. According to one conceptual model, there are six dimensions of treatment burden, including financial, medication, administrative, time/travel, lifestyle, and healthcare. Methods: A scoping review methodology framework was used to collected data from EMBASE CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane from 2000 to March 2020. Studies which focused on treatment burden among elderly patients with cancer (+65 years) were selected. Data were extracted using a standardized proforma. Results: The results identified 3319 total papers. Of these, 24 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the scoping review. A significant proportion of these studies was conducted in the United States (n = 10) using self-reported, cross-sectional data. Financial burden was the most prevalent dimension of treatment burden, with 11 studies focusing on the direct and indirect costs associated with cancer treatment. Other but less obvious aspects of treatment burden elderly patients experienced included the length of time taken to access and administer treatment and medication-related burdens. Conclusions: Emerging findings suggest that the financial aspects of cancer treatment are a significant burden for most elderly cancer patients. Personalized healthcare interventions targeting ways to reduce and screen for treatment burden, particularly those related to cost, are urgently needed.

The Out-of-Pocket Cost Burden of Cancer Care-A Systematic Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Out-of-pocket costs pose a substantial economic burden to cancer patients and their families. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the literature on out-of-pocket costs of cancer care.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted to identify studies that estimated the out-of-pocket cost burden faced by cancer patients and their caregivers. The average monthly out-of-pocket costs per patient were reported/estimated and converted to 2018 USD. Costs were reported as medical and non-medical costs and were reported across countries or country income levels by cancer site, where possible, and category. The out-of-pocket burden was estimated as the average proportion of income spent as non-reimbursable costs.

RESULTS

Among all cancers, adult patients and caregivers in the U.S. spent between USD 180 and USD 2600 per month, compared to USD 15-400 in Canada, USD 4-609 in Western Europe, and USD 58-438 in Australia. Patients with breast or colorectal cancer spent around USD 200 per month, while pediatric cancer patients spent USD 800. Patients spent USD 288 per month on cancer medications in the U.S. and USD 40 in other high-income countries (HICs). The average costs for medical consultations and in-hospital care were estimated between USD 40-71 in HICs. Cancer patients and caregivers spent 42% and 16% of their annual income on out-of-pocket expenses in low- and middle-income countries and HICs, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We found evidence that cancer is associated with high out-of-pocket costs. Healthcare systems have an opportunity to improve the coverage of medical and non-medical costs for cancer patients to help alleviate this burden and ensure equitable access to care.

Care to Quit: a stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial to implement best practice smoking cessation care in cancer centres

BACKGROUND

Cigarette smoking in people with cancer is associated with negative treatment-related outcomes including increased treatment toxicity and complications, medication side effects, decreased performance status and morbidity. Evidence-based smoking cessation care is not routinely provided to patients with cancer. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of a smoking cessation implementation intervention on abstinence from smoking in people diagnosed with cancer.

METHODS

A stepped wedge cluster randomised design will be used. All sites begin in the control condition providing treatment as usual. In a randomly generated order, sites will move to the intervention condition. Based on the Theoretical Domains Framework, implementation of Care to Quit will include (i) building the capability and motivation of a critical mass of key clinical staff and identifying champions; and (ii) identifying and implementing cessation care models/pathways. Two thousand one hundred sixty patients with cancer (diagnosed in the prior six months), aged 18+, who report recent combustible tobacco use (past 90 days or in the 30 days prior to cancer diagnosis) and are accessing anti-cancer therapy, will be recruited at nine sites. Assessments will be conducted at baseline and 7-month follow-up. The primary outcome will be 6-month abstinence from smoking. Secondary outcomes include biochemical verification of abstinence from smoking, duration of quit attempts, tobacco consumption, nicotine dependence, provision and receipt of smoking cessation care, mental health and quality of life and cost effectiveness of the intervention.

DISCUSSION

This study will implement best practice smoking cessation care in cancer centres and has the potential for wide dissemination.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The trial is registered with ANZCTR (www.anzctr.org.au): ACTRN ( ACTRN12621000154808 ) prior to the accrual of the first participant and will be updated regularly as per registry guidelines.

Patterns of care for men with prostate cancer: the 45 and Up Study

OBJECTIVES

To describe patterns of care in New South Wales for men with prostate cancer, and to ascertain factors associated with receiving different types of treatment.

DESIGN

Individual patient data record linkage study.

SETTING, PARTICIPANTS

4003 New South Wales men aged 45 years or more enrolled in the population-based 45 and Up Study in whom prostate cancer was first diagnosed during 2006-2013.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Prostate cancer treatment type received; factors statistically associated with treatment received; proportions of patients who consulted radiation oncologists prior to treatment.

RESULTS

In total, 1619 of 4003 patients underwent radical prostatectomy (40%), 893 external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) (22%), 183 brachytherapy (5%), 87 chemotherapy (2%), 373 androgen deprivation therapy alone (9%), and 848 no active treatment (21%). 205 of 1628 patients who had radical prostatectomies (13%) had radiation oncology consultations prior to surgery. Radical prostatectomy was more likely for patients aged 45-59 years, with regional stage disease, living 100 km or more from the nearest radiotherapy centre, having partners, or having private health insurance, while lower physical functioning, obesity, and living in areas of greater socio-economic disadvantage reduced the likelihood. EBRT was more likely for patients aged 70-79 years, with non-localised or unknown stage disease, living less than 100 km from the nearest radiotherapy centre, or not having private health insurance, while the likelihood was lower for patients aged 45-59 years or more than 80 years and for those who had several comorbid conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

Men with prostate cancer were twice as likely to have radical prostatectomy as to receive EBRT, and fewer than one in seven had consulted radiation oncologists prior to prostatectomy. The treatment received was influenced by several socio-demographic factors. Given the treatment-specific side effects and costs, policies that affect access to different treatments for prostate cancer should be reviewed.

Australian Experiences of Out-of-Pocket Costs and Financial Burden Following a Cancer Diagnosis: A Systematic Review

(1) Background: This systematic review was conducted to identify cancer patient experiences, and the impact of out-of-pocket costs and financial burden in Australia. (2) Methods: A systematic review, following the Preferring Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, was conducted. Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature and PubMed were searched. The primary outcome was financial burden among cancer patients and their families in Australia. The secondary outcome was out-of-pocket costs associated with cancer care and treatment within the population sample, and the impact of financial burden. (3) Results: Nineteen studies were included, covering more than 70,000 Australians affected by cancer. Out-of-pocket costs varied by cancer type and ranged from an average of AUD 977 for breast cancer and lymphoedema patients to AUD 11,077 for prostate cancer patients. Younger aged patients (≤65 years), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people in rural and/or remote areas, households with low income, those who were unemployed and people with private health insurance were at increased risk of experiencing out-of-pocket costs, financial burden or a combination of both. (4) Conclusions: Australians diagnosed with cancer frequently experience financial burden, and the health and financial consequences are significant. Focusing efforts on the costs of care and options about where to have care within the context of informed decisions about cancer care is necessary.

Measuring financial toxicity in Australian cancer patients - Validation of the COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity (FACT COST) measuring financial toxicity in Australian cancer patients

AIM/BACKGROUND

The FACT COST is a patient-rated measure of financial toxicity, developed and validated in a North American population. We aimed to confirm the validity and reliability of the FACT COST in Australian cancer patients, because the Australian healthcare funding structure is different to that in North America.

METHODS

A single center, cross-sectional study design investigated financial toxicity in oncology outpatients. Eligible adults had current malignancy, with or without active cancer treatment. The primary endpoint was the degree of financial toxicity experienced via the COST questionnaire; secondary endpoints included health-related quality of life (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General), anxiety, and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Clinical and demographic data were recorded. Statistical analysis determined the internal consistency, test-retest reliability and validity of COST, and correlations between COST score and secondary endpoints.

RESULTS

A total of 257 patients participated (79% response rate). Fifty-three percent were female; median age 63 years (range 19-88). COST scores were skewed toward less financial toxicity, median 26 (SD 10.3, range 1-43), lower scores indicating higher toxicity. High internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.884), test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.801), and convergent validity were demonstrated. Financial toxicity was greatest in younger participants, those with more inpatient admissions, those with a change in employment status following diagnosis, and those in the lowest income quintile. Financial toxicity was associated with worse health-related quality of life, and greater depression and anxiety.

CONCLUSION

The COST measure of financial toxicity demonstrated acceptable validity parameters in an Australian outpatient population. Greater financial toxicity was associated with worse psychological well-being and with certain patient demographics.

Financial toxicity in lung cancer: an assessment of magnitude, perception, and impact on quality of life

BACKGROUND

Advances in lung cancer therapy have resulted in improved clinical outcomes. Unfortunately, advances can come at a financial cost to patients and their families that poses a significant risk to overall quality of life (QoL). Financial distress has been shown to be associated with increased symptom burden and decreased treatment compliance but the magnitude of financial distress is not well characterized in lung cancer populations.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with stage II-IV newly diagnosed lung cancer and starting first-line therapy were recruited at a tertiary academic institution between July 2018 and April 2019. The comprehensive score for financial toxicity (COST) was used to assess financial toxicity and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung (FACT-L) was used to assess QoL. Associations between financial toxicity and baseline variables were assessed using multivariable linear regression and correlations were assessed using the Pearson correlation.

RESULTS

In this study, 143 consecutive patients were approached and 91.6% agreed to participate (N = 131). The median age was 65 years (35-90); 52.7% were male (n = 69), and 75.6% were white (n = 99). The inability to afford basic necessities and having <1 month of savings was associated with increased financial toxicity (P < 0.001) after adjusting for other factors such as age, race, insurance, and income. There was also a trend toward increased financial toxicity among those who were employed but on sick leave (P = 0.06). Increased financial toxicity was correlated with a decrease in QoL (correlation coefficient 0.41, P < 0.001). Patients' anticipated out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses for the upcoming 6 months ranged from $0 to $50 000 (median $2150). However, there was no correlation between anticipated OOP expenses and either financial toxicity or QoL.

CONCLUSIONS

These data identify key factors for identifying at-risk patients and builds a framework for exploring the benefit of financial counseling interventions, which may improve QoL and oncologic outcomes.

Prostate Cancer Treatment and Work: A Scoping Review

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy diagnosed in North American men. Although medical advances have improved survival rates, men treated for prostate cancer experience side-effects that can reduce their work capacity, increase financial stress, and affect their career and/or retirement plans. Working-age males comprise a significant proportion of new prostate cancer diagnoses. It is important, therefore, to understand the connections between prostate cancer and men’s work lives. This scoping review aimed to summarize and disseminate current research evidence about the impact of prostate cancer treatment on men’s work lives. Electronic databases were searched to identify peer-reviewed articles published between 2006 and 2020 that reported on the impact of prostate cancer treatment on men’s work. Following scoping review guidelines, 21 articles that met inclusion criteria were identified and analyzed. Evidence related to the impact of prostate cancer on work was grouped under three themes: (1) work outcomes after prostate cancer treatment; (2) return to work considerations, and (3) impact of prostate cancer treatment on men’s finances. Findings indicate that men’s return to work may be more gradual than expected after prostate cancer treatment. Some men may feel pressured by financial stressors and masculine ideals to resume work. Diverse factors including older age and social benefits appear to play a role in shaping men’s work-related plans after prostate cancer treatment. The findings provide direction for future research and offer clinicians a synthesis of current knowledge about the challenges men face in resuming work in the aftermath of prostate cancer treatment.

Out-of-Pocket Costs and Perceived Financial Burden Associated with Prostate Cancer Treatment in a Quebec Remote Area: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: In publicly funded healthcare systems, patients do not pay for medical visits but can experience costs stemming from travel or over-the-counter drugs. We lack information about the extent of this burden in Canadian remote regions. This study aimed to: (1) describe prostate cancer-related out-of-pocket costs and perceived financial burden, and (2) identify factors associated with such a perceived burden among prostate cancer patients living in a remote region of the province of Quebec (Canada). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 171 prostate cancer patients who consulted at the outpatient clinic of the Centre Hospitalier de Rouyn-Noranda. Results: The majority of patients (83%) had incurred out-of-pocket costs for their cancer care. The mean total cost incurred in the last three months was $517 and 22.3% reported a moderate, considerable or unsustainable burden. Multivariable analysis revealed that having incurred higher cancer-related out-of-pocket costs (OR: 1.001; 95%CI: 1.001-1.002) private drug insurance (vs. public, OR: 5.23; 95%CI: 1.13-24.17) was associated with a greater perceived financial burden. Having better physical health-related quality of life (OR: 0.95; 95%CI: 0.913-0.997), a university education (vs. elementary/high school level, OR: 0.03; 95%CI: 0.00-0.79), and an income between $40,000 and $79,999 (vs. ≤ $39,999, OR: 0.15; 95%CI: 0.03-0.69) were associated with a lower perceived burden. Conclusion: Prostate cancer patients incur out-of-pocket costs even if they were diagnosed many years ago and the perceived burden is significant. Greater attention should be paid to the development of services to help patients manage this burden.

Financial toxicity and strain among men receiving prostate cancer care in an equal access healthcare system

Purpose

To examine financial toxicity and strain among men in an equal access healthcare system based on social determinants and clinical characteristics.

Methods

Observational study among men receiving prostate cancer care (n = 49) at a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facility. Financial hardship included overall financial strain and financial toxicity due to healthcare costs. Financial strain was measured with one item asking how much money they have leftover at the end of the month. Financial toxicity was measured with the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) scale.

Results

Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity scores among participants indicated moderate levels of financial toxicity (M = 24.4, SD = 9.9). For financial strain, 36% of participants reported that they did not have enough money left over at the end of the month. There were no racial or clinically related differences in financial toxicity, but race and income level had significant associations with financial strain.

Conclusion

Financial toxicity and strain should be measured among patients in an equal access healthcare system. Findings suggest that social determinants may be important to assess, to identify patients who may be most likely to experience financial hardship in the context of obtaining cancer care and implement efforts to mitigate the burden for those patients.

Financial toxicity and employment status in cancer survivors. A systematic literature review

Background

Financial toxicity has traditionally been attributed to the rising costs of cancer care. As ability to work impacts one’s financial situation, limited employment and reduced income may also contribute to financial toxicity. We examined evidence of the association between financial toxicity and employment status in cancer survivors.

Methods

A systematic literature review was performed via PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PsycINFO with search terms including “Cancer,” “Financial toxicity,” and “Employment” on September 25, 2019.

Results

Thirty-one papers met eligibility criteria. Thirteen studies were rated as having high quality, 16 as adequate, and two as low. Being actively treated for cancer had serious negative consequences on employment and medical expenditures. Unemployment, changed or reduced employment, lost days at work, poor work ability, and changes to employment were associated with a higher risk of financial toxicity. Patients who were younger, non-white, unmarried, of low education, living with dependents, residing in non-metropolitan service areas, with lower income, and of low socioeconomic status were more at risk of financial toxicity. Other variables associated with financial toxicity included having a mortgage/personal loan, higher out of pocket costs and household bills, limited health insurance, more severely ill, on active treatment, and lower functioning or quality of life.

Conclusion

Cancer negatively affects employment, and these changes are significant contributors to financial toxicity. Researchers, healthcare professionals, and patients themselves should all cooperate to tackle these complex issues.

Nursing Implications of Recent Changes in Management Practices for Metastatic Prostate Cancer

OBJECTIVE

Prostate cancer is one of the most common male cancers in the world and accounts for substantial morbidity, mortality, loss of disability-adjusted life-years, and financial burden to patients and to the community. Metastatic prostate cancer has been managed for over 70 years with androgen deprivation therapy, but further life-prolonging therapies were not available until 2004. Since then, drugs such as docetaxel, abiraterone, enzalutamide, cabazitaxel, radium-223 dichloride, and (not available in Australia) sipuleucel-T have all demonstrated efficacy in prolongation of survival in castrate-resistant prostate cancer, and improvement in cancer-related morbidity.

DATA SOURCES

Peer-reviewed scientific publications, Australian Government agency reports, and expert opinion.

CONCLUSION

More recently, several of these agents have been given earlier in the treatment course to the hormone-sensitive metastatic setting, with even greater benefits in survival. These treatments have come at a cost: a literal financial cost to the community, and often to the patients and their families; and financial costs to the community to supply the drugs to those who need them. They also carry non-financial costs, including side effects of treatment, exacerbation of other co-morbidities, metabolic and bone health challenges, and psychological and social stresses, including those associated with longer survival with metastatic cancer.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

The role of the nurse in management of these issues has never been more important. Nurses are often uniquely placed to educate men with prostate cancer and their families, screen for and identify adverse effects of treatment, and provide education and support not otherwise available. Nurses are central to the streamline of care coordination within the multidisciplinary team and the holistic care journey for men and their partners through the health care system. This review discusses several of these aspects to inform practice.

'It was a big monetary cut'-A qualitative study on financial toxicity analysing patients' experiences with cancer costs in Germany

Receiving information about expected costs promptly after a cancer diagnosis through psycho-oncology care or social counselling is crucial for patients to be prepared for the financial impact. Nevertheless, less is known about financial impacts for cancer patients in countries with statutory health insurance. This study aims to explore the full scope of costs that constitute the financial impact of a cancer diagnosis in Germany and to identify the reasons for high financial decline. Semistructured interviews with 39 cancer patients were conducted between May 2017 and April 2018. Narratives were analysed via qualitative content analysis. Several factors influenced cancer patients' indirect costs and direct medical and non-medical costs. For many patients, these changes resulted in higher indirect costs caused by income losses, especially when surcharges for shift work, travel expenses or company benefits ceased and were not reimbursed. Higher direct medical costs were caused by co-payments and additional non-refundable costs. Non-medical costs were reported to increase for some patients and to decrease for others, as for example, leisure activity costs either increasing because of pampering oneself to cope with the diagnosis and undergoing therapy or decreasing because of not being able to participate in leisure activities during therapy. When analysing the financial impacts of individuals' total costs, we found that some patients experienced no financial decline or an overall financial increase. Most patients experienced overall higher costs, and income loss was the main driver of a high financial decline. Nevertheless, decreased non-medical costs due to lower work-related and leisure activity costs could compensate for these higher costs. Cancer patients are confronted with a variety of changes in their financial situations, even in countries with statutory health insurance. Screening for cancer patients with a high risk of financial decline should consider any effects on indirect costs and direct medical and nonmedical costs.

Macroeconomic environment and insurance-mortality relationship: An analysis of gender-based disparity among non-elderly adult patients of melanoma and lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

Cancer patients exhibit disparity in mortality risks across demographic divisions as well as insurance groups. The effects of macroeconomic environment also vary for such strata. This study analyses the gaps between mortality risks for male and female cancer patients with and without insurance and examines how such gaps transform over time with macroeconomic shifts.

METHODS

Demographic, clinical and treatment records of 45,750 melanoma and 91,157 lung cancer patients diagnosed in 2007-2009 and 2011-2013 were extracted from Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. Kaplan-Meier test was applied to ascertain survival probability of each insurance group, while Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess relative mortality risk for Medicaid and uninsured patients, for the whole data as well as separately for both time periods and genders.

RESULTS

Both the hazard ratios and change thereof over time are greater for female patients without insurance, than for male patients. More than any insurance-gender subgroup, uninsured female patients of melanoma have much increased hazard ratios, from 1.41 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04-1.92] to 2.22 [95% CI, 1.67-2.94].

CONCLUSION

Despite diagnostic improvements and technology advancements, the adverse effects of macroeconomic crisis are associated with increased relative mortality risks for cancer patients without insurance, more for women than men.

Automatically Identifying Financial Stress Information from Clinical Notes for Patients with Prostate Cancer

Background

Financial stress, one of the social determinants, is common among cancer patients because of high out-ofpocket costs for treatment, as well as indirect costs. The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) has advised providers to recognize and discuss cost concerns with patients in order to enhance shared decision-making for treatment and exploration of financial assistant programs. However, financial stress is rarely assessed in clinical practice or research, thus, under-coded and under-documented in clinical practice. Natural language processing (NLP) offers great potential that can automatically extract and process data on financial stress from clinical free text existing in the patient electronic health record (EHR).

Methods

We developed and evaluated an NLP approach to identify financial stress from clinical narratives for patients with prostate cancer. Of 4,195 eligible prostate cancer patients, we randomly sampled 3,138 patients (75%) as a training dataset (150,990 documents) to develop a financial stress lexicon and NLP algorithms iteratively. The remaining 1,057 patients (25%) were used as a test dataset (55,516 documents) to evaluate the NLP algorithm performance. The common terms representing financial stress were "financial concerns," "unable to afford," "insurance issue," "unemployed," and "financial assistance." Negations were used to exclude false mentions of financial stress.

Results

Applying both pre- and post-negation, the NLP algorithm identified 209 patients (6.0%) from the training sample and 66 patients (6.2%) with 161 notes from the test sample as having documented financial stress. Two independent domain experts manually reviewed all 161 notes with NLP identified positives and randomly selected 161 notes with NLP-identified negatives, the NLP algorithm yielded 0.86 for precision, 1 for recall, and 0.9.2 for F-score.

Conclusions

Financial stress information is not commonly documented in the EHR, neither in structured format nor in clinical narratives. However, natural language processing can accurately extract financial stress information from clinical notes when such narrative information is available.

The patient co-payment and opportunity costs of accessing healthcare for Indigenous Australians with cancer: A whole of population data linkage study

AIM

To quantify the direct out-of-pocket patient co-payments and time opportunity costs (length of hospital stay) incurred by Indigenous and non-Indigenous persons diagnosed with cancer during the first year postdiagnosis.

METHODS

CancerCostMod was used, which is a model of cancer costs based upon a whole-of-population data linkage. The base population was a census of all persons diagnosed with cancer in Queensland, Australia between 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2012 (n = 25,553). Individual records were linked to corresponding Queensland Health Admitted Patient Data Collection, Emergency Data Information System, Medicare Benefits Schedule, and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme records between 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2015. Queensland data were weighted to be representative of the Australian population (approximately 123,900 Australians, 1.7% Indigenous Australians).

RESULTS

After adjusting for age, sex, rurality, area-based deprivation, and cancer group, Indigenous Australians accrued significantly less in postdiagnosis patient co-payments at 0-6 months (61% less) and 7-12 months (63% less). Indigenous Australians also had significantly fewer postdiagnosis hospitalizations at 0-6 months (21% fewer) and 7-12 months (27% fewer).

CONCLUSION

There is growing concern regarding the financial burden of cancer to the patient. The time spent away from family and their community may also have an important time opportunity cost, which may affect a person's decision to undertake or continue treatment. This is the first study in Australia to identify the financial cost of co-payments for Indigenous people with cancer, as well as the number and length of hospitalizations as drivers of time opportunity costs.