Financial toxicity screening preferences in patients with breast cancer.

Abstract

e23132 Background: Financial toxicity is an important issue for cancer patients that affects quality of life and treatment adherence. Screening can help identify patients at risk but consensus on appropriate timing or methods for screening is lacking. We conducted a survey to assess preferences for financial toxicity screening among a cohort of cancer patients. Methods: An anonymous cross-sectional survey was sent to email newsletter subscribers of a breast cancer-specific philanthropic organization with a nationwide reach in July 2023. Participants were asked about financial toxicity screening preferences; all questions were optional. Frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations were calculated for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Comparative analyses, including chi-square and t-tests, were used to identify differences across demographic groups. Statistical significance was determined at p < 0.05. Results: Of 5774 potential participants who clicked on the email link, 825 respondents with confirmed prior or current cancer diagnosis participated in the survey (14.3% response rate). These participants were 84% female (n = 690) with a median age of 50 years (IQR 44-57), were 51% non-Hispanic White (n = 418), 18% Black or African-American (n = 149), 8.2% Hispanic (n = 68). 84% confirmed a breast cancer (n = 689), and 53% were currently undergoing treatment (n = 441). Most participants were not asked about financial stressors by their care team (52%, n = 429) and most did not receive assistance from their care team (61%, n = 501). Most preferred for their providers to reach out to them regarding financial needs (75%, n = 615). Most wished for these discussions to take place early on in their treatment course (when first diagnosed [40%, n = 334] or when treatment course was selected [33%, n = 275]), and for these questions to be asked frequently (each appointment [38%, n = 312] or once per month [32%, n = 268]). Participants felt most comfortable discussing financial needs with a social worker or patient/financial navigator (82%, n = 679). Most wished to discuss financial concerns in person (67%, n = 553) or via telephone (58%, n = 479). Conclusions: Patients with cancer desire financial screening to occur early, often, and to be initiated by their providers. Patient preferences can guide optimal implementation of financial toxicity screening practices. Continued work refining best practices for financial toxicity screening should incorporate these patient preferences.