Addressing Cancer-Related Financial Toxicity in North Carolina Oncology Care Settings

The financial burden, or financial toxicity (FT), of cancer is a consequential and growing problem, particularly for rural patients. It is important to improve our understanding of how financial navigation (FN) can reduce the material, psychological, and behavioral burden of costs associated with cancer care in both rural and non-rural community settings. The purpose of this study is to conduct a financial navigation program in 4 rural and 4 non-rural oncology practices in North Carolina and evaluate the effects of financial navigation on patient outcomes, including financial toxicity and health-related quality of life.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients 18 years of age and older * Patients with any type of cancer diagnosed within 5 years and/or living with advanced disease * Patients who score 22 or lower on the COST measure indicating high FT * Patients must be able to read and speak English Exclusion Criteria: * Participants without a cancer diagnosis * Patients diagnosed more than 5 years ago without advanced disease * Patients or caregivers under the age of 18 * Patients who do not sign the consent form * Patients who do not complete the baseline COST survey * Patients who cannot read and speak English