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Integrating Financial Toxicity Assessment in Cancer Treatment: Implications for Medical Oncology Training


Affiliations
1 University of California San Francisco, School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94115, United States
2 University of California San Francisco, Division of Hematology/Oncology, San Francisco, CA 94117, United States
 

Financial burden or toxicity associated with cancer treatment is defined as problems a patient may face related to the costs of medical care. Financial toxicity has been widely documented in the oncology literature and has been associated with a host of negative outcomes, including impaired quality of life, treatment non-adherence and greater risk of mortality. These negative outcomes prompted a call to action among oncology providers to take the lead in discussions of financial burden and costs of care among patients. However, to date, oncologists feel ill prepared to initiate these discussions and few patients feel this is part of their routine oncologic care. Moreover, little attention has been given to the training of future clinicians in oncology to effectively discuss costs of care. The development and implementation of provider communication training programs and integration of appropriate financial toxicity screening will enable cost of care discussions to become routine and help dissipate patient discomfort.


Keywords

Financial Toxicity, Financial Toxicity Assessment, Medical Oncology Training.
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  • Integrating Financial Toxicity Assessment in Cancer Treatment: Implications for Medical Oncology Training

Abstract Views: 491  |  PDF Views: 121

Authors

Errol J. Philip
University of California San Francisco, School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94115, United States
Nichole Legaspi
University of California San Francisco, Division of Hematology/Oncology, San Francisco, CA 94117, United States
Hala T. Borno
University of California San Francisco, Division of Hematology/Oncology, San Francisco, CA 94117, United States

Abstract


Financial burden or toxicity associated with cancer treatment is defined as problems a patient may face related to the costs of medical care. Financial toxicity has been widely documented in the oncology literature and has been associated with a host of negative outcomes, including impaired quality of life, treatment non-adherence and greater risk of mortality. These negative outcomes prompted a call to action among oncology providers to take the lead in discussions of financial burden and costs of care among patients. However, to date, oncologists feel ill prepared to initiate these discussions and few patients feel this is part of their routine oncologic care. Moreover, little attention has been given to the training of future clinicians in oncology to effectively discuss costs of care. The development and implementation of provider communication training programs and integration of appropriate financial toxicity screening will enable cost of care discussions to become routine and help dissipate patient discomfort.


Keywords


Financial Toxicity, Financial Toxicity Assessment, Medical Oncology Training.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18311/jhsr%2F2020%2F25145