Financial Education for Young Adult Cancer Patients

Overseen By Rhea K Khurana, BS

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Columbia University

Disqualifiers: Unable to complete survey, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a financial education program designed to help young adults with cancer manage money-related stress. The researchers aim to identify financial challenges and provide guidance to alleviate these burdens. The program collaborates with local organizations to offer resources and counseling tailored to individual needs. Young adults aged 15-39 who speak English or Spanish and have received cancer treatment in the last 18 months may qualify. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to access personalized financial support and resources tailored to individual needs.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this financial education and navigation intervention is safe?

Research has shown that financial education and support programs are generally safe for young adult cancer patients. One study found that these programs reduce financial stress without causing harm. Another study demonstrated that financial support programs are practical and beneficial for those in need. These programs offer support and information, avoiding physical side effects associated with medication. Instead, they help patients manage their finances more effectively. Overall, these programs are well-received and aim to improve quality of life by easing financial burdens. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this financial education and navigation intervention because it directly addresses the financial challenges young adult cancer patients often face, which are typically not covered by traditional medical treatments. Unlike standard care options that focus on the medical aspects of cancer treatment, this program partners with community-based organizations to provide personalized financial education and counseling. This tailored approach not only helps patients and their families understand and manage their financial situation but also connects them to valuable resources, offering comprehensive support beyond medical care.

What evidence suggests that this financial education and navigation intervention is effective for young adult cancer patients?

Research has shown that teaching young adult cancer patients about finances and helping them navigate financial issues can reduce their financial stress. Studies have used the COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity (COST) to measure improvements, with higher scores indicating better financial well-being. One study found that financial guidance for newly diagnosed cancer patients improved their COST scores, reducing financial hardship. Additionally, learning about finances has increased confidence in handling health insurance, further lowering financial stress. This trial will offer a financial education and navigation intervention to participants, suggesting this approach could effectively address the financial challenges faced by young adult cancer patients. ^{2 4 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Melissa Beauchemin

Principal Investigator

Columbia University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for young adults (ages 15-39) diagnosed with cancer within the last 18 months, and their caregivers who handle finances. Participants must speak English or Spanish and not be on hospice care. Those unable to complete financial surveys or with conditions that make participation unsafe are excluded.

Inclusion Criteria

I am an adolescent or young adult participating in this study.

I was diagnosed and treated for cancer within the last 18 months.

Caregiver/financial partner participants:

Exclusion Criteria

Unable to complete financial survey questions or contraindicated (as outlined in Protection of Human Subjects)

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Financial Toxicity Assessment

Adaptation of the COST measure and assessment of psychometric properties for a diverse group of AYAs

6 months

Multiple visits for assessment and data collection

Intervention

Pilot test of the financial education/navigation intervention delivered to AYAs

6 months

Regular contact with community partners

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in financial toxicity scores and intervention acceptability

6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Financial education / navigation intervention

Trial Overview The study aims to create a tool for measuring financial stress in young adult cancer patients and test an educational program designed to help manage the financial burden of cancer treatment. It involves adapting a measurement tool and piloting a novel financial education/navigation intervention.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Patient Financial Education / Navigation Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Individuals who screen positive will all move forward to receive the intervention. This intervention includes partnering with community-based organizations to deliver financial education, connection to resources, and counseling tailored to individual patients and spouses for 6-months.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Columbia University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,529

Recruited

2,832,000+

Patient Advocate Foundation

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

220+

National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)

Collaborator

Trials

394

Recruited

404,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The LIFT study is a multi-site Phase 2 clinical trial involving 780 cancer patients across nine oncology care settings in North Carolina, aimed at addressing financial toxicity (FT) through financial navigation (FN) services.

The trial will evaluate the effectiveness of FN in reducing FT and improving health-related quality of life, using validated measures like the Comprehensive Score of Financial Toxicity (COST) and the PROMIS Global Health Questionnaire.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Lessening the Impact of Financial Toxicity (LIFT): a protocol for a multi-site, single-arm trial examining the effect of financial navigation on financial toxicity in adult patients with cancer in rural and non-rural settings. Wheeler, SB., Biddell, CB., Manning, ML., et al.[2022]

Financial toxicity (FT) is a significant issue for about half of cancer patients, particularly affecting those from socioeconomically vulnerable backgrounds, leading to negative economic and health outcomes.

Financial navigation, led by social workers or nurse navigators, is a key strategy to help patients manage FT by assessing their risk factors and connecting them to resources, while oncologists can play a crucial role in addressing financial concerns during treatment planning.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Navigating financial toxicity in patients with cancer: A multidisciplinary management approach. Smith, GL., Banegas, MP., Acquati, C., et al.[2023]

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) aged 15-39 face significant financial challenges due to cancer treatment, leading to issues like income loss, debt, and treatment nonadherence.

To effectively address financial toxicity in AYAs, clinical interventions should focus on enhancing financial self-efficacy and providing direct support, using reliable and age-appropriate measures.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Understanding, measuring, and addressing the financial impact of cancer on adolescents and young adults. Salsman, JM., Bingen, K., Barr, RD., et al.[2020]

A pilot study involving 34 cancer patients showed that a financial navigation program effectively reduced anxiety about treatment costs for 33% of participants, highlighting its potential to support patients in managing financial stress.

While the program provided valuable assistance with budgeting and insurance applications, it did not significantly change self-reported financial burden, indicating that while anxiety can be alleviated, overall financial challenges may persist.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pilot Feasibility Study of an Oncology Financial Navigation Program. Shankaran, V., Leahy, T., Steelquist, J., et al.[2019]

The oncology financial navigation intervention, CC Links, significantly reduced financial toxicity for both patients with hematologic cancer and their caregivers, with statistical improvements noted in their financial distress and quality of life.

The intervention was highly accepted by participants, with 89% rating it positively, and it successfully secured an average of $2,500 in financial benefits per participant, indicating its practical effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Coverage and Cost-of-Care Links: Addressing Financial Toxicity Among Patients With Hematologic Cancer and Their Caregivers. Edward, JS., McLouth, LE., Rayens, MK., et al.[2023]

A study involving 35 financial navigation staff from 29 cancer centers highlighted the importance of proactive financial assessments and tailored assistance to help cancer patients, especially in rural areas, manage financial toxicity.

Best practices identified include using screening tools and patient education, along with a call for more financial navigators and policy reforms to improve access to resources and support for patients facing financial challenges.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Interventions to address cancer-related financial toxicity: Recommendations from the field. Edward, J., Petermann, VM., Eberth, JM., et al.[2023]

The CAFÉ study is a randomized controlled trial designed to assess the effectiveness of financial navigation interventions in reducing cancer-related financial hardship among patients, with outcomes measured at a 12-month follow-up.

By comparing patients receiving either brief or extended financial navigation support to a control group receiving standard care, the study aims to provide evidence on how financial navigation can improve quality of life and reduce financial distress in cancer patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Cancer Financial Experience (CAFÉ) study: randomized controlled trial of a financial navigation intervention to address cancer-related financial hardship. Henrikson, NB., Anderson, ML., Dickerson, J., et al.[2023]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12006751/

A Scoping Review of Interventions to Address Financial ... Outcome measures varied widely, including the COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity (COST), the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), ...

2. ascopubs.org ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/OP-25-00874

Financial Navigation for People Newly Diagnosed With ... COST: A FACIT Measure of Financial Toxicity (FACIT-COST; range, 0-44), higher scores mean better financial well-being (low financial hardship ≥ ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451865425000973

Pilot feasibility of a financial and health-related social ... Adolescent and young adult (AYA: 15–39 years) cancer survivors face high financial toxicity risk. Addressing unmet health-related social needs (HRSN: financial ...

4. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/28322134.2025.2455706?af=R

CHAT-S study protocol: A randomized controlled trial of a ... Background: Health insurance education could mitigate financial toxicity experienced by young adult (YA) cancer survivors by increasing confidence when ...

5. acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/cncr.35367

Interventions to mitigate cancer‐related medical financial ... The development of a financial toxicity patient-reported outcome in cancer: the COST measure. Cancer. 2014; 120(20): 3245-3253. doi:10.1002 ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11087728/

Financial-legal navigation reduces financial toxicity of ... A novel interdisciplinary financial and legal navigation intervention for pediatric, adolescent and young adult patients and their caregivers.

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10739788/

Using Real-World Data to Explore the Impact of One-Time ... Young adult (YA) cancer survivors experience worse financial outcomes than older survivors. This analysis used data from Expect Miracles Foundation to ...