How Cancer Programs Identify and Address the Financial Burdens of Rural Cancer Patients

Overview

Journal Support Care Cancer

Specialties Critical Care
Oncology

Date 2021 Oct 16

PMID 34655327

Citations 11

Authors

Victoria Petermann

Whitney E Zahnd

Robin C Vanderpool

Jan M Eberth

Catherine Rohweder

Randall Teal

Maihan Vu

Lindsay Stradtman

Elizabeth Frost

Erika Trapl

Sarah Koopman Gonzalez

Thuy Vu

Linda K Ko

Allison Cole

Paige E Farris

Jackilen Shannon

Jessica Lee

Natoshia Askelson

Laura Seegmiller

Arica White

Jean Edward

Melinda Davis

Stephanie B Wheeler

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: Financial toxicity is associated with negative patient outcomes, and rural populations are disproportionately affected by the high costs of cancer care compared to urban populations. Our objective was to (1) understand cancer programs' perceptions of rural-urban differences in cancer patients' experiences of financial hardship, (2) evaluate the resources available to cancer patients across the rural-urban continuum, and (3) determine how rural and urban health care teams assess and address financial distress in cancer patients.

Methods: Seven research teams within the Cancer Prevention and Research Control Network conducted semi-structured interviews with cancer program staff who have a role in connecting cancer patients with financial assistance services in both rural and urban counties. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. We identified themes using descriptive content and thematic analysis.

Results: We interviewed 35 staffs across 29 cancer care programs in seven states, with roughly half of respondents from programs in rural counties. Participants identified differences in rural and urban patients' experiences of financial hardship related to distance required to travel for treatment, underinsurance, and low socioeconomic status. Insufficient staffing was an identified barrier to addressing rural and urban patients' financial concerns.

Conclusions: Improved financial navigation services could mitigate the effects of financial toxicity experienced by cancer patients, particularly rural patients, throughout treatment and survivorship. Future research is needed to improve how cancer programs assess financial hardship in patients and to expand financial navigation services to better serve rural cancer patients.

Citing Articles

Self-Reported Financial Difficulties Among Patients with Multiple Myeloma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treated at U.S. Community Oncology Clinics (Alliance A231602CD).

Conti R, McCue S, Dockter T, Gunn H, Dusetzina S, Bennett A medRxiv. 2024; .

PMID: 39371185 PMC: 11451638. DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.13.24311098.

The intersection of travel burdens and financial hardship in cancer care: a scoping review.

Planey A, Spees L, Biddell C, Waters A, Jones E, Hecht H JNCI Cancer Spectr. 2024; 8(5).

PMID: 39361410 PMC: 11519048. DOI: 10.1093/jncics/pkae093.

Geographic distance to Commission on Cancer-accredited and nonaccredited hospitals in the United States.

Schroeder M, Semprini J, Kahl A, Lizarraga I, Birken S, Wahlen M J Rural Health. 2024; 41(1):e12862.

PMID: 38963176 PMC: 11637937. DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12862.

Urban relatives ameliorate survival disparities for genitourinary cancer in rural patients.

Choudry M, Dindinger-Hill K, Ambrose J, Horns J, Vehawn J, Gill H Cancer Med. 2024; 13(5):e7058.

PMID: 38477496 PMC: 10935886. DOI: 10.1002/cam4.7058.

Financial burden among metastatic breast cancer patients: a qualitative inquiry of costs, financial assistance, health insurance, and financial coping behaviors.

Waters A, Petermann V, Planey A, Manning M, Spencer J, Spees L Cancer Causes Control. 2024; 35(6):955-961.

PMID: 38388859 PMC: 11129926. DOI: 10.1007/s10552-024-01854-8.

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