Abstract 1323P
Background
Cancer diagnosis and therapy can be associated with patients' physical, emotional and financial burdens. While much attention is being paid to physical and emotional distress, there is only limited data about financial effects on cancer patients in countries with universal healthcare system. In order to tailor support for financial distress to patient reported outcomes it is crucial to better model and understand financial effects. This study aims to define a conceptual model of financial effects of a tumor disease for the German health care context.
Methods
A systematic literature review was conducted to identify risk factors associated with experiencing subjective financial distress. Furthermore, semi-structured interviews were conducted with n=18 tumor patients from the University Hospitals Heidelberg (National Center for Tumor Diseases) and Jena. Additionally, focus groups with representatives from social services and HTA-institutions/payers were held. Qualitative content analysis was used to identify key dimensions and topics.
Results
The developed model accounts for the country-specific objective financial burden in Germany and highlights the individual component regarding assessment of and coping with possible financial effects. It consists of experienced and expected objective burdens (income loss and direct costs), behavioural and cognitive coping strategies, risk factors and subjective distress occurring in six areas of life (employment; health; social integration; social participation; living; across life areas).
Conclusions
Financial effects of a tumor disease in a universal healthcare setting are a multidimensional phenomenon. Hence, a differentiated instrument for measuring financial effects in Germany is needed. The results are the basis for developing such an instrument for a patient-reported outcome of financial effects across different cancer patient groups and treatment trajectories. These are necessary to better understand, communicate and address the financial impact of a cancer disease in the future.
Clinical trial identification
NCT05319925.
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
University Hospital Heidelberg.
Funding
Deutsche Krebshilfe (German Cancer Aid).
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.