Defining the clinician's role in mitigating financial toxicity: an exploratory study.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Health Economics
• Patient Advocacy

Background:

• Financial toxicity, the financial burden of cancer care, is a significant concern for patients.
• Clinicians often do not address financial toxicity, despite patient desire for such discussions.
• Existing research lacks a clear definition of the clinician's actionable role in mitigating financial toxicity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess oncology clinicians' perspectives on their role in alleviating financial toxicity.
• To identify barriers hindering clinicians from addressing financial toxicity.
• To gather feedback on clinician-centered interventions for financial toxicity.

Main Methods:

• An 18-item anonymous electronic survey was developed using Redcap.
• The survey was distributed to all oncology clinicians, including physicians, advanced practice providers, and trainees.
• Participation was voluntary, with 72 clinicians completing the survey.

Main Results:

• A majority of surveyed clinicians (72 total, 30% response rate) agreed that clinicians should address cancer-related costs.
• Top barriers identified were lack of knowledge regarding out-of-pocket costs, time constraints, and limited awareness of available resources.
• The most sought-after intervention was an institutional resource guide; improved price transparency and multidisciplinary support were common suggestions.

Conclusions:

• Enhancing price transparency is crucial for addressing financial toxicity.
• Integrating existing resources into clinical workflows can improve support for patients.
• Streamlining multidisciplinary approaches is essential for overcoming barriers to mitigating financial toxicity.