Objectives/purpose The consequences of a cancer diagnosis can be exacerbated by the financial burden of treatment. The COSA 2024 Roadmap to reducing Financial Toxicity recognises the role for health professionals in connecting patients with financial information and support. This study aimed to 1) describe discussion between patients and care teams about financial costs; and 2) identify socio-demographic differences in providing financial information.
Sample and setting People who had been diagnosed with cancer in the prior 6 months and accessing anti-cancer therapy from six public oncology services in New South Wales. The 488 participants were: 54% female; 47% aged 50-65 years, 27% currently smoking.
Procedures A cross-sectional study using patient-reported data collected via a telephone interview between November 2022 and March 2024. The data originated from participants in the Care to Quit implementation trial and concurrently recruited people at the same sites. Descriptive statistics and mixed effects logistic regression analyses were completed.
Results The likely costs of their cancer care had not been discussed with 74% of the sample (n=356). Where financial discussions occurred, oncologists (n=50; 45%) and nurses (n=26; 23%) were more frequently initiating discussions than patients themselves (n=9; 8%). A third of participants (157; 33%) reported receiving information on financial supports available from their healthcare professionals. Modelling for the odds of health professionals mentioning financial supports to compared not having these discussions, did not show any statistically significant differences by smoking status. After adjusting for covariates, age and employment status were associated with mentioning financial supports to people with cancer.
Conclusion and clinical implications Patients seldom recall receiving financial information and support and this remains an important gap for addressing financial toxicity in Australian cancer settings.