A Systematic Review of Interventions Targeting Cancer-Related Financial Hardship: Current Evidence and Implications

Despite an increasing emphasis on alleviating financial hardship in cancer care delivery, limited knowledge of evidence-based and effective interventions is available.

This systematic review aimed to identify gaps in the literature and provide insights for future evidence-based interventions targeting financial hardship from both micro and macro perspectives.

We comprehensively searched the PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases from inception to October 2022. Studies examining the effect of an intervention on mitigating cancer-related financial hardship were included.

A total of 24 studies were included. Findings indicate that the most significant positive changes were in the material conditions domain from the micro perspective of financial hardship. From the macro perspective, positive effects were shown for improving access to care, affordability of care, healthcare utilization, and healthcare equity of interventions at the provider or care team level, the community healthcare environment level, and the healthcare system and policy level. Notably, significant heterogeneity was observed among interventions and outcome measurements.

This is the first comprehensive systematic review of interventions targeting cancer-related financial hardship from both micro and macro perspectives. No consistently positive effect of the interventions on all domains was reported. Multidisciplinary approaches and higher-level hierarchical and evidence-based interventions are needed to address financial hardship.

Health practitioners should screen and manage financial hardship using a standard and comprehensive measurement at the dyadic level of cancer survivors and caregivers.