Abstract A093: Implementation of a financial hardship screening among Native American patients with cancer
Authors: Janitz Amanda E. , Anderson-Buettner Amber S. , Madison Stefani D. , Doescher Mark P. , Rhoades Dorothy A. 
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Financial hardship and financial hardship screening are emerging concerns in oncology. Native American patients may be at increased risk of financial hardship due to factors including poverty, medical comorbidities, and lack of private health insurance coverage. Financial hardship for Native American patients with cancer has only rarely been studied, and implementation of screening for financial hardship for these patients has never been reported. Methods: Guided by input from a stakeholder advisory board consisting of patient, provider, and staff members at a single cancer center in Oklahoma, we implemented a financial hardship screening tool, the COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity (COST) – Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) among 42 Native American patients with cancer. We conducted key informant interviews with ten of these patients and four clinical staff involved in the implementation process. Patient interviews included questions about current financial hardship, experiences in discussing financial hardship with the cancer care and primary care team, and acceptability of the COST-FACIT tool. Clinician interviews focused on their experience with the project, including implementation of the COST-FACIT tool, barriers to implementation, and sustainability. Recorded interviews were transcribed and thematically analyzed using MAXQDA® software. COST-FACIT tool data were analyzed using SAS v. 9.4 Results: Three-quarters (76%, n=32) of participants who completed the COST-FACIT tool reported moderate or severe financial hardship (Score &lt;25 out of max 44, with lower scores indicating more hardship). A higher percentage of patients experiencing financial hardship were younger, covered by Medicaid, unemployed, not married/cohabiting, had lower income, and lower education compared to those with no/mild hardship (Scores ≥25). Among patients and clinicians, we identified themes of 1) financial hardship screening perception and intervention experiences, 2) screening efficacy and opportunities for improvement, and 3) systematic and patient related themes of Native American health systems and culture. Conclusions: Financial hardship was reported by the majority of Native American patients with cancer included in our study. Patients expressed a positive experience with the screening tool, including identification of financial challenges though timing of the tool in regards to their cancer diagnosis varied across patients. Clinicians experienced challenges in implementation of the COST-FACIT tool related to logistics, the COVID-19 pandemic, and concerns for sustainability. However, clinicians reported a positive experience with the tool and interactions with patients and referrals that resulted from the screening.

Citation Format: Amanda E. Janitz, Amber S. Anderson-Buettner, Stefani D. Madison, Mark P. Doescher, Dorothy A. Rhoades. Implementation of a financial hardship screening among Native American patients with cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A093.