Patient and oncologist discussions about cancer care costs

Patient out-of-pocket costs are higher for cancer care than for any other health-care sector. Oncologist-patient discussions of costs are not well understood. We conducted an exploratory interview study to examine the frequency, patterns, attitudes, and preferences of both patients and providers on discussion of treatment costs.

We conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with oncology clinicians and people receiving chemotherapy at a large nonprofit health system. Multiple investigators conducted thematic analysis using modified content analysis, grounded theory, and interaction analysis methods.

Patient themes included the relevance of cost to their experience, preference for the doctor to be the starting point of cost discussions, but relative infrequency of discussions with doctors or other care team member. Provider themes were an emphasis on clinical benefit above costs, conviction that cost-related decisions should rest with patients, and lack of access to treatment costs. Interest in discussing costs and barriers accessing cost information were common themes from both patients and providers.

Doctors and patients want to discuss treatment costs but lack access to them. These data support growing evidence for a provider role in discussions of cost during cancer treatment planning.