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The cost of cure: Examining objective and subjective financial toxicity in head and neck cancer survivors
Author(s) -
Baddour Khalil,
Fadel Mark,
Zhao Meng,
Corcoran Michael,
Owoc Maryanna S.,
Thomas Teresa H.,
Sabik Lindsay M.,
Nilsen Marci L.,
Ferris Robert L.,
Mady Leila J.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.26801
Subject(s) - earnings , medicine , socioeconomic status , toxicity , finance , head and neck cancer , financial distress , cancer , physical therapy , environmental health , business , population , financial system
Background Little is documented regarding objective financial metrics and their impact on subjective financial toxicity in head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors. Methods In a cross‐sectional analysis, 71 survivors with available claims data for HNC‐specific out‐of‐pocket expenses (OOPE) completed a survey including patient‐reported, subjective financial toxicity outcome tools: the Comprehensive Score for financial Toxicity (COST) and the Financial Distress Questionnaire (FDQ). Results Worse COST scores were significantly associated with lower earnings at survey administration (coefficient = 3.79; 95% CI 2.63–4.95; p < 0.001); loss of earnings after diagnosis (coefficient = 6.03; 95% CI 0.53–11.52; p = 0.032); and greater annual OOPE as a proportion of earnings [log10(Annual OOPE:Earnings at survey): coefficient = −5.66; 95% CI −10.28 to −1.04; p = 0.017]. Similar results were found with FDQ. Conclusion Financial toxicity is associated with particular socioeconomic characteristics which, if understood, would assist the development of pre‐treatment screening tools to detect at‐risk individuals and intervene early in the HNC cancer survivorship trajectory.