Abstract 2240: An exploratory study of financial toxicity intervention components preferred by cancer survivors
Authors: Huq Maisha , Conley Claire , Derry-Vick Heather , Khoudary Amanda , Sorgen Lia , Billini Osairys , Gunning Thomas , Luck Conor , Kaushik Shreya , Hurley Vanessa , Marshall John , Weinberg Benjamin , Tesfaye Anteneh , Ip Andrew , Potosky Arnold , Schwartz Marc D. 
Published: March 2024

Background: Despite growing research on financial toxicity (FT) in cancer survivors, few studies have examined cancer survivors’ preferences for FT interventions. Understanding cancer survivors’ preferences for specific intervention components may facilitate the development and implementation of such interventions, potentially reducing the financial burden of cancer treatment.

Purpose: The current work is an exploratory study of cancer survivors’ FT intervention component preferences.

Methods: Adult survivors (N=105) of colorectal cancer (CRC; n=55) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL; n=50) from three tertiary care centers self-reported demographic characteristics (gender, race, income, employment status, insurance), clinical characteristics (comorbidities), psychosocial characteristics (PROMIS Global Health scale for mental health, Brief Health Literacy Screen scale, eHealth Literacy Scale), financial impact of cancer (the 11-item comprehensive score for financial toxicity COST scale, and life-altering and care-altering coping strategy scales), and preferences for FT intervention components. Intervention preferences were assessed through survey items on intervention timing and specific content. We employed descriptive statistics to assess overall preferences, and unadjusted linear regression and ANOVAs to identify demographic, clinical, psychosocial and financial predictors of intervention preferences.

Results: In terms of timing, 79% of participants favored initiating a FT intervention before treatment compared to during or after treatment. The majority of participants (57%) were interested in at least one FT intervention component. In terms of specific components, participants were most interested in help understanding out-of-pocket costs and insurance (49%), help applying for financial assistance (39%), financial education (32%), and help communicating with the treatment team (32%). Participants were less interested in online tools to manage cancer-related expenses (27%), finance-related stress management (25%), and budgeting (20%). Predictors of overall interest (i.e., number of components endorsed) were: having high FT (B=.413, p=&lt;.001), adopting life-altering coping behaviors (B=.374, p=&lt;.001), using care-altering coping behaviors (B=.241, p=.014), being a non-White survivor (B=.219, p=.024), and having poorer mental health (B=-.280, p=.004).

Conclusions: Cancer survivors may prefer FT interventions offered before treatment, and providing guidance on out-of-pocket costs and insurance. FT interventions may be particularly desired by those who experience greater financial toxicity, life and care-altering costs, are a racial/ethnic minority, or have poorer mental health, suggesting potential priority groups and target outcomes for intervention development.

Citation Format: Maisha Huq, Claire Conley, Heather Derry-Vick, Amanda Khoudary, Lia Sorgen, Osairys Billini, Thomas Gunning, Conor Luck, Shreya Kaushik, Vanessa Hurley, John Marshall, Benjamin Weinberg, Anteneh Tesfaye, Andrew Ip, Arnold Potosky, Marc D. Schwartz. An exploratory study of financial toxicity intervention components preferred by cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2240.