6530 Background: Chemotherapy shortages have been increasingly recognized, and most oncologists report their patients have been at least intermittently affected. Despite their potential impact, little is known about the perspectives of the general population regarding shortages. Methods: In October 2016, we conducted a survey using the GfK KnowledgePanel, an online probability-based sample representative of adults in the United States. We assessed awareness of shortages, and provided vignettes in which a substitute chemotherapy drug had either a major or minor difference in side effects or effectiveness. We asked respondents whether they would want to be informed of a substitution, and, if the original drug were available elsewhere, would transfer care to receive it. We also asked if cancer centers were to publish drugs in shortage at their center, if such data would affect decisions about where to seek care. Analyses applied post-stratification sampling weights to draw national inferences. Results: Of 737 potential participants, 420 (57%) responded; 16% had heard of chemotherapy shortages. Respondents with a personal history of cancer were more likely to have heard of shortages (31% vs 14%, p = 0.03), as were those with greater education (p = 0.01) and those who reported more sources of health information (p = 0.01). Most desired to be informed about a chemotherapy substitution in the setting of both major (87%) and minor (83%) differences in side effects, as well as both major (87%) and minor (82%) differences in effectiveness. In contrast, only 61% reported they would transfer care if a substitute drug had major differences in side effects, and even fewer (40%) for minor differences. Similarly, 72% and 46% reported they would transfer care if a substitute had major or minor differences in effectiveness respectively. Finally, 57% reported that publically-reported shortage data would be a “big factor” in deciding where to be treated. Conclusions: Our data suggest that the general population is largely unaware of chemotherapy shortages. Moreover, in the setting of even minor changes in effectiveness or side effects, respondents wanted to be made aware of substitutions. With major differences, many would seek care elsewhere.
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