Abstract A052: Multilevel determinants of financial toxicity in breast cancer care: Perspectives of healthcare professionals and Latina survivors

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: Financial toxicity is a multidimensional side effect of cancer treatment. Most relevant research has focused on patient perspectives in characterizing individual-level determinants of financial toxicity. This study examines the multi-level determinants of financial toxicity from the perspectives of Latina breast cancer survivors and healthcare professionals. Methods: We analyzed qualitative data from focus groups with 19 Latina breast cancer survivors and interviews with 10 healthcare professionals recruited through community partners and venues in Chicago. Results: At the individual level, lack of knowledge of treatment-related costs and insurance coverage were shared concerns among survivors and healthcare professionals; healthcare professionals viewed this lack of knowledge as driving delays in financial planning, while survivors prioritized survival over financial concerns after diagnosis. At the interpersonal level, both groups viewed social networks as platforms for disseminating information on financial resources. At the community level, healthcare professionals identified community norms and dynamics as barriers to seeking financial assistance, while survivors suggested that access to culturally-astute community-based organizations may eliminate these barriers. At the organizational/health policy level, healthcare professionals reported that Latina patients’ access to financial assistance programs is compromised by restrictive eligibility criteria, leading to worse financial burden among ineligible patients according to survivors. Healthcare professionals noted the limited availability and instability of financial assistance programs, and both groups agreed that such programs were limited post-treatment. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that multi-level interventions at the patient, clinical team, healthcare, and policy levels may be needed to adequately address financial toxicity in cancer survivors. Citation Format: Perla Chebli, Jocelyne Lemus, Corazón Avila, Kryztal Peña, Bertha Mariscal, Sue Merlos, Judy Guitelman, Yamilé Molina. Multilevel determinants of financial toxicity in breast cancer care: Perspectives of healthcare professionals and Latina survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr A052.