%0 Journal Article
%T Communicating the Financial Burden of Treatment With Patients
%A Ellen Miller Sonet
%A Gery P. Guy Jr.
%A Ryan D. Nipp
%J About the Ed Book | ASCO Educational Book
%D 2018
%R https://doi.org/10.1200/EDBK_201051
%X As data mount showing that patients with cancer often experience financial burden related to their care,1-4 there is a growing need to foster appropriate patient-clinician communication about the costs of cancer care.5-16 Research has shown that oncologists frequently feel uncomfortable and poorly equipped to discuss costs with their patients.17,18 As a result, oncology clinicians often do not ask about their patientsĄŻ financial concerns.18-20 However, the majority of oncologists acknowledge the importance of discussing the financial impact of care with patients.18 Importantly, published recommendations from ASCO and others encourage patient-clinician discussion about the costs of cancer care.21,22 Notably, patient-clinician discussion about the costs of cancer care has the potential to improve care delivery and outcomes for patients by fostering informed decision-making. Although the financial costs of cancer care represent just one factor in the decision-making process, data suggest that patients would appreciate the opportunity to engage in financial discussions with their oncology team.19,23,24 In addition, patients often prefer that their clinician initiate cost discussions with them rather than initiating the conversation themselves.25 THE CLINICIAN'S PERSPECTIVE ON DISCUSSING COSTS WITH PATIENTS Section: ChooseTop of pageAbstractTHE CLINICIAN'S PERSPECTI... <<COST IN THE ERA OF TARGET...ASSISTING PATIENTS WITH T...References Potential Barriers to Cost Discussions Multiple hypothetical barriers exist that often prevent oncologists from engaging in discussions about the costs of cancer care with their patients (Sidebar 1). First, clinicians may worry that these discussions are time consuming. In a time-limited clinical encounter, oncologists may prioritize discussions about other issues, such as their patientsĄŻ physical symptoms, the side effects of treatment, laboratory and imaging results, and chemotherapy dosing. Second, clinicians may avoid discussions about the costs of cancer care because of their lack of knowledge about the total costs incurred by the patient and the specific out-of-pocket expenditures that patients may endure. Certain patients may have different insurance plans and benefit packages that alter the amount that a specific individual will ultimately pay for their cancer care, and this further complicates cliniciansĄŻ ability to anticipate the economic consequences for each individual patient. Third, some clinicians may feel that they should not consider costs when making treatment recommendations for their patients from both a
%U http://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/EDBK_201051