Studies Look Into Financial Burdens Faced By Cancer Patients. MedPage Today (10/23, Bankhead, 186K) reports that research presented at a press briefing prior to the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s inaugural Palliative Care in Oncology Symposium indicates that one-third “of cancer survivors reported financial or work-related hardships that persisted well beyond treatment of their disease.” Investigators surveyed nearly 1,600 cancer survivors. The researchers found that “one in four (27%) survey participants reported high debt, bankruptcy, and other financial difficulties, and 37% of the patients said they had to modify work plans, which included extended periods of leave and delayed retirement.” Healio (10/23, 8K) reports, “Participants in active treatment were significantly more likely to make work modifications (OR=2.9; 95% CI, 1.7-4.9) and face financial difficulties (OR=3.2; 95% CI, 2.1-5) compared with those who were in post-treatment for 5 or more years.” Medscape (10/23, Mulcahy, 215K) reports that “patients younger than 65 years reported 130% more difficulties than older people (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.7 – 3.3), patients with no insurance reported 67% more difficulties than those with insurance (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.3 – 4.4), and nonwhite patients reported 41% more difficulties than white patients (OR 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1 – 2.6).” HealthDay (10/23, Preidt, 5K) reports that “another study presented at the same meeting included 174 people” who were insured and who were “undergoing treatment for breast, colon, or other solid tumor cancers.” Among these individuals, “89 percent had had to make at least one lifestyle change to accommodate cancer care, the researchers said. Lifestyle changes included spending less on leisure activities (78 percent), spending less on basics like food and clothing (57 percent), borrowing money (54 percent), and spending savings (50 percent).” Medscape (10/23, Nelson, 215K) reports, “More alarming was that 39% of participants used what the researchers termed a ‘medical care-altering strategy.’” Due to “out-of-pocket and associated expenses not covered by insurance, these patients were cutting corners” with their medical treatments. The researchers found that “the most common strategies were to not fill a prescription (28%) and to take less medication than prescribed (23%).” Cancer Network (10/23) also reports on both studies. “Co-Rounding” May Reduce Hospital Stays, Readmission Rates For Inpatient Cancer Patients. Medscape (10/23, Mulcahy, 215K) reports that research to be presented at ASCO’s Palliative Care in Oncology Symposium suggests that “good things happen when medical oncologists and palliative care specialists are equally responsible for cancer care on a hospital’s inpatient oncology unit.” Medscape explains, “This pioneering collaborative model, dubbed ‘co-rounding,’ means that a physician from each specialty is present all day on the unit, as opposed to the usual model in which palliative care is consultative and a specialist stops by the floor.” The study indicated that “co-rounding significantly reduced hospital stays and readmission rates for inpatient cancer patients at the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, said Dr Richard Riedel, the lead author of” the study.
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 19:04:33 +0000