Abstract B054: Using Libraries to Educate About Cancer Finances (LEAF): A pilot study of an educational webinar intervention to address information needs for community individuals affected by cancer
Authors: Liang Margaret , Chen Shu-Fan , Bryant Monica , Doran Joanna , Ildefonso Madeleine , Zakarian Caroline , Thompson Patricia 
Published: September 2024

Introduction. Financial toxicity affects 30-70% of cancer patients. There is limited data on interventions to address practical and financial information needs that could mitigate financial toxicity for community individuals affected by cancer. Our objective was to test feasibility of a pilot educational webinar intervention and assess patient reported outcomes, knowledge, and satisfaction. Methods. An educational webinar intervention was advertised by Los Angeles Public Library and delivered by community organization Triage Cancer. Four live webinars focused on Understanding Health Insurance, Decisions About Work, Getting Organized, and Being Prepared. Attendees who self-identified as cancer patients, survivors, or caregivers were recruited to participate. Electronic surveys assessed baseline demographics and patient reported outcome measures including Health Insurance Literacy Measure (range 9-36, higher scores indicate higher literacy), PROMIS Self-Efficacy (range 10-50, higher scores indicate higher self- efficacy), InCharge Financial Distress/Well-Being (range 1-10, higher scores indicate better financial well-being), and knowledge questions (20 total) at baseline and 3 months. After each session, the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire for Internet-based interventions (range 0-32, higher scores indicate greater satisfaction) and knowledge questions were assessed (5 per session). Results. There were 18 total attendees with 8-11 attendees per session. Of 8 consented participants, 71% were female, 58% were &gt;50 years old, and all were insured. Participants were diverse (29% Asian, 29% White, and 14% Indigenous). Seven participants completed the baseline survey and were eligible for analysis. Participants attended an average of 2.3 sessions (range 1-4). At baseline, average health insurance literacy was 24.5, self-efficacy was 42.4, financial distress/well-being was 5.8, and overall knowledge score was 71%. Among 4 participants who completed the 3-month survey, average health insurance literacy improved by 28%, self-efficacy worsened by 14%, financial distress/well-being improved by 34%, and overall knowledge scores improved by 2%. After each webinar, average session knowledge increased after Getting Organized (n=4, +21%), Understanding Health Insurance (n=2, +17%), and Being Prepared (n=5, +12%) and was unchanged after Decisions about Work (n=5). There was moderate/high satisfaction with CSQ-I scores ranging from 20-29 for the four sessions. Conclusion. These results demonstrate the feasibility and participant satisfaction of a small pilot educational webinar intervention about practical and financial topics delivered in partnership with a public library system and community organization. Preliminary findings suggest the potential to improve certain outcomes (i.e., health insurance literacy, financial distress/well- being, and knowledge) with the intervention. Future efforts are focused on increasing dissemination through structured self-study of recorded webinars and reaching those with lower baseline health literacy or technological comfort.

Citation Format: Margaret Liang, Shu-Fan Chen, Monica Bryant, Joanna Doran, Madeleine Ildefonso, Caroline Zakarian, Patricia Thompson. Using Libraries to Educate About Cancer Finances (LEAF): A pilot study of an educational webinar intervention to address information needs for community individuals affected by cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B054.