Abstract 1612P
Background
RWED was obtained through cutting edge technology paired with consumer mobile devices, on 403 members of Belong.life, a global mobile application. All pts received IOT for various solid tumors, and replied to a short, targeted survey related to the potential development of FT as a result of their IOT treatment.
Methods
We report on 308 worldwide validated pts who anonymously and voluntarily replied to 14 questions including demographics and FT related points such as personal financial coping strategies and FT incidence.
Results
250 pts from US and 58 pts from Rest of the world (RoW) (Australia and UK, 29% each), were mostly (255/83%) >50 years of age. Pts’s stages were 3 in 46(15%) and 4 in 211 (68.5%). There were 114 (37%) females and 194 (63%) males. The most common cancer diagnosis was lung in 139 pts (45%), malignant melanoma in 59 (19%), kidney in 40 (13%), bladder in 31(10%) and colorectal in 26 (8.5%). The most frequently administered immunotherapy drugs were pembrolizumab and nivolumab in 42% (each), ipilimumab in 17.5 % and durvalumab and atezolizumab in 9% (each). 115 pts (37.5%) reported FT during their treatment journey. Of them 102/308 (33%) received FT information prior to their IOT from their medical team while 206/308 pts (67%) did not receive it. Commonly reported FTs were: high medical copayments in 34 % of the repliers (higher in USA vs. RoW pts 52%/12%), high drugs and treatment related copayments in 27.5 % (higher in USA vs. RoW pts 36%/19%), and high transport costs 30% (higher in RoW vs. US pts 42%/18%). Regarding coping strategies, 59 % used personal savings, 26% received financial support from family and friends and 30 % trimmed their expenses.
Conclusions
308 pts, members of Belong.life, reported on their FTs experiences on receiving cancer IOT. Half of the pts were not aware of the possible development of FT. Only 33% had pre-treatment information from their medical staff. There was a striking difference in patients that were informed pre IOT treatment and had FT with those that were not informed and developed FT, with a reduced prevalence of 73.5 vs. 26.5%.Physicians and medical staff should be aware of their pts’ possible risks for FTs and provide relevant advice prior to IOT initiation.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.