scholarly journals Clinician Perspectives of COVID-19-Related Cancer Drug Funding Measures in Ontario

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 1056-1066
Author(s):  
Rohini D. Naipaul ◽  
Rebecca E. Mercer ◽  
Kelvin K. W. Chan ◽  
Lyndee Yeung ◽  
Leta Forbes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Cancer Drug ◽  
Funding Policies ◽  
Funding Program ◽  
Treatment Plans ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Dosing Intervals

The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on cancer patients and the delivery of cancer care. To allow clinicians to adapt treatment plans for patients, Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) issued a series of interim funding measures for the province’s New Drug Funding Program (NDFP), which covers the cost of most hospital-delivered cancer drugs. To assess the utility of the measures and the need for their continuation, we conducted an online survey of Ontario oncology clinicians. The survey was open 3–25 September 2020 and generated 105 responses. Between April and June 2020, 46% of respondents changed treatment plans for more than 25% of their cancer patients due to the pandemic. Clinicians report broad use of interim funding measures. The most frequently reported strategies used were treatment breaks for stable patients (62%), extending dosing intervals (59%), and deferring routine imaging (56%). Most clinicians anticipate continuing to use these interim funding measures in the coming months. The survey showed that adapting cancer drug funding policies has supported clinical care in Ontario during the pandemic.

scholarly journals Considerations for the Management of Women with Breast Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (03) ◽  
pp. 260-263
Author(s):  
Monica Irukulla ◽  
Palwai Vinitha Reddy
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Current Availability ◽  
The Individual

AbstractOutcomes in cancer patients are strongly influenced by timeliness and quality of multidisciplinary interventions. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to severe disruption in cancer care in many countries. This has necessitated several changes in clinical care and workflow, including resource allocation, team segregation and deferment of many elective procedures. Several international oncological societies have proposed guidelines for the care of patients afflicted with breast cancer during the pandemic with a view to optimize resource allocation and maximize risk versus benefit for the individual and society. Clinicians may utilize these recommendations to adapt patient care, based on the current availability of resources and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic in each region. This article discusses the guidelines for care of patients afflicted with breast cancer during the pandemic.

scholarly journals The experience of cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 107815522110668
Author(s):  
Melanie Dalby ◽  
Nikant Ailawadi
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Information Provision ◽  
Specialist Nurse

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the care of many cancer patients in a variety of ways. This study was conducted to understand the experience cancer patients have had during the pandemic. Method: Cancer patients who were under the care of the Trust between September 2020 – January 2021 were invited to take part in a survey sent through as a text message. Results: A total of 600 patients were sent a text message with a link to an online survey. There were 82 patients who responded. The data has been divided into three themes of information provision and safety around COVID-19, impact on cancer care and feeling supported by staff. Conclusion: It was encouraging to see that patients felt safe coming into the hospitals if it was required and they received appropriate information about changes to their care and how to protect themselves against COVID-19. Most patients stated that the pandemic had not influenced their cancer care. Of those that did experience delays most were understanding of this. There was a mixture of responses in terms of patients feeling supported by staff, most inpatients did feel supported and 75% of patients were able to contact their specialist nurse.

scholarly journals An analysis on medical expenses of multidisciplinary cancer care under health insurance

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (10) ◽  
pp. 711-716
Author(s):  
Myungjin Jung ◽  
Byungyul Jun
Keyword(s):  
Health Insurance ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Multidisciplinary Care ◽  
Therapeutic Modality ◽  
Patient Treatment ◽  
Medical Expenses ◽  
Hospitalization Costs ◽  
Treatment Plans

Background: Cancer has been the leading cause of death in Korea for more than 40 years. As the aging population in the country increases, this trend is expected to continue. Cancer care is also being subdivided into specialties according to the development of medical technology. This division of care has made it difficult for a single physician to set up a complete cancer treatment plan. As a result, the call for multidisciplinary care has risen. Multidisciplinary cancer care allows physicians to share opinions and choose optimal patient treatment plans across multiple specialties. In August 2014, the Ministry of Health and Welfare designated a set number of approved multidisciplinary treatments and has included them under its health insurance coverage. As a result, multidisciplinary care is rapidly increasing.Current Concepts: An analysis on cancer care was conducted from 2014 to 2018, which examined the average medical expenses, hospitalization costs, and surgery costs per person according to therapeutic modality. Findings showed that multidisciplinary care decreased the overall cost of medical care in cancer patients compared to segmented care provided by single specialty physicians.Discussion and Conclusion: This study predicted that multidisciplinary care would be effective in reducing medical expenses. Cancer patients do not need to be treated by individual subspecialty physicians when personalized care treatment plans through a multidisciplinary approach is possible. The results of this study show that the Korean government should expand health insurance premium support and coverage for multidisciplinary cancer care.

Fear of receiving less effective care: A barrier to effective cancer care cost communication.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e18339-e18339
Author(s):  
Sokbom Kang ◽  
Yelee Yu
Keyword(s):  
Effective Treatment ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Considerable Proportion ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Financial Status ◽  
Cost Effective Treatment ◽  
The Cost ◽  
To Receive

e18339 Background: Increasing financial burden in cancer care promoted cost communication as an intervention to the problem. We explored patients’ attitudes and concerns for the physician-patient communication of the costs of cancer care. Methods: From an oncology outpatient clinic, patients were recruited and interviewed using a 29-item questionnaire. The questionnaire includes basic and financial characteristics, attitudes toward cost-communication, and experience of cost-communication with oncologists. Results: Among 292 patients with gynecologic cancer, 68% were found to have an income below the nation’s average households income. Although the majority (81%) of patients have a positive attitude toward patient-physician cancer care cost-communication, however, only 19% of them wanted to discuss the cost with their physicians - 33% of them did not want to disclose their financial status to health care providers and 48% wanted to discuss the cost with other providers than their physicians. In addition, while 87% preferred to be informed about costs for various treatment options, 86% of them did not want to receive cost-effective treatment and preferred to receive the most effective treatment regardless of their financial status. Compared with non-cancer patients (n = 83), significantly more patients had a negative attitude to disclosing their financial status especially to their physician (22% vs. 11%, P = 0.024). Conclusions: A considerable proportion of cancer patients had concerns that cost communication with their physician may interfere with their opportunity to access the best care options. To facilitate cost communication, oncologists should understand such concerns and making a thoughtful effort to relieve the concern during cost communication.

Patient and physician perceptions: Importance and documentation of patient priorities in treatment planning and decision-making.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (27_suppl) ◽  
pp. 224-224
Author(s):  
Ellen Miller-Sonet ◽  
Gabrielle Betty Rocque
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Treatment Planning ◽  
Social History ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Treatment Plans ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Stage 1 ◽  
Key Events

224 Background: The National Academies of Medicine prioritizes patient’s needs, values, and preferences when patient’s and care teams make treatment decisions. However, the collection of this patient information is not part of the formal clinical intake process, nor are pertinent questions included in EHR templates. Methods: Surveys were conducted of cancer patients and cancer physicians to understand perceptions on whether patients’ quality of life priorities (e.g work, hobbies, key events, household responsibilities) are discussed, documented and reflected in treatment plans. Physicians were recruited via a market research panel. Patients were recruited from the Cancer Care data base via an email request to complete an online survey. Results: From February to October, 2018, 310 cancer patients and 109 cancer physicians completed surveys. Cancer patients were mostly female, 91% had been diagnosed in the last year, 61% had breast cancer, and 55% were stage 1 or 2. Among physicians, 88% self-identified as trained in oncology, 33% practice at academic centers, 51% in community practices, 34% from the Northeast, 21% the Southeast, and 25% the Midwest. Most patients (62%) said it was very/extremely important their doctor know their priorities. Most physicians (66%) report they most of the time/always know patients’ personal quality of life priorities before finalizing treatment plans, and 62% say this information has a large/major impact on recommendations. However, only 40% of patients report having this conversation before treatment started. Although 76% of doctors said they discussed what is important to patients most of the time or always, only 60% report it is documented, usually in the social history or notes fields. Only 36% of patients are sure this information is entered into their medical record. Conclusions: Cancer patients want their doctors to know what is important to them, and physicians agree. However, documentation is often relegated to narrative notes fields in the EHR. Considering the key role patients’ priorities should play in treatment planning, there need to be standardized collection tools so this information can be timely collected and shared.

scholarly journals Cancer in Patients Referred Abroad For Health Care and Related Foreign Currency Expenses

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-169
Author(s):  
Ruben Niyonsaba ◽  
Astère Manirakiza ◽  
Laurent Irakoze
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Foreign Currency ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
General Management ◽  
The Social ◽  
Medical Reports ◽  
The Cost

Background: There is limited access to health services in Burundi, as most of the services such as cancer care are unavailable. Burundian citizen who can afford the costs involved in seeking treatment elsewhere are referred abroad. The purpose of this study was to assess the proportion of patients suffering from cancer among patients referred abroad for healthcare and to evaluate the costs incurred by those patients in relation to what the country would save by establishing cancer healthcare facilities. Methodology: The study was performed retrospectively from January 2016 to December 2018. With approval of Ministry of Public Health and AIDS control, the data was collected from medical reports at the general management of health facilities and AIDS control office. All patients with medical reports containing the reason for referral were included in the study. Medical reports assessing occupational disability were excluded. Data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: Male, female and unclear was 45.3%, 39.9% and 14.8% respectively. Average age was 31,82. The main reason for referral was MRI (21.7%). Cancer patients represented 18% of all patients referred abroad for healthcare and the most common type of cancer found was breast (26.5%), genitourinary (15.7%) and digestive (14,2%). If all patients from 2016-2018 were referred to Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, India or Europe for 30 years, the country would spend in foreign currency US$3,858,229; US$638,342.80; US$21,288,592; US$10,410,192.90; US$54,718,329.70 respectively. Also, if all patients estimated by Globocan in 2018 were to be referred to these countries, the cost of foreign currencies would be US$52,455,122.60; US$38,264,740.88; US$129,272,590.40; US$81,330,325.94; US$276,601,008.02 respectively. Conclusion: There is a good number of cancer patients among patients referred abroad for health care. The estimated costs incurred by patients referred abroad for cancer care are far greater than funds needed to setup modern cancer care centres in Burundi.

Trends in the cost of the futile cancer care near the end of life.

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (31_suppl) ◽  
pp. 126-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wender Lin ◽  
Chi-Jeng Hsieh
Keyword(s):  
End Of Life ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Claim Data ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Aggressive Cancer ◽  
Futile Treatment ◽  
The Cost

126 Background: Aggressive cancer care near the end of life may not only represent a quality-of-care issue, but also a futility issue. Under the constraint of health resources, it is of interest to know the cost trends of futile treatment for cancer patients near the end of their life. Methods: The definition of potential medical futility for cancer patients near the end of their life was developed based on the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method. Nine experts or academics from medical, political, social, or legal fields built a consensus that treatment after 7 days in the intensive care unit following a cardiopulmonary resuscitation for cancer patients who died within 3 months is probably futile. Based on this definition, we used death registry and Taiwan’s National Health Insurance claim data from 2000-2001 and 2009-2010 respectively to estimate the cost of potential futile treatment for cancer patients near the end of their life in 2001 and 2010. Results: The percentage of cancer patients receiving potentially futile treatment near the end of their life reduced from 2.68% in 2001 (883/32,993) to 1.58% in 2010 (649/41,046). The cost of potentially futile cancer care also decreased from $283 million NTD (New Taiwan Dollar) in 2001 to $255 million NTD in 2010 (1USD=30NTD). Nevertheless, the per capita cost of potentially futile cancer care slightly increased from $320 thousand NTD to $393 thousand NTD. Conclusions: Although the cost of potentially futile cancer care for patients near the end of life is not huge in Taiwan, its trend of decrease may indicate that supportive but not aggressive cancer care is more and more prevailing and acceptable by patients, their family, as well as health care providers.

scholarly journals 1K4Cancer Breaks the Silence: A Crowd-Funding Campaign by Sebeccly Cancer Care

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. 184s-184s
Author(s):  
A. Udoh ◽  
O. Salako ◽  
V. Okafor
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Teaching Hospital ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Relationship Management ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
Cancer Drug ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients

Amount raised: The 1K4Cancer campaign raised a total of $18,099. Background and context: Poverty, chronicity of spending, paying out-of-pocket for health care needs, and the prohibitive cost of cancer drugs are some of the reasons cancer patients don't start or complete treatment. Over 90% of Nigerian cancer patients pay for healthcare expenses out-of-pocket; putting a heavy strain on their finances and those of their caregivers. Sebeccly is a cancer charity that enables cancer care access to indigent cancer patients through several fundraising modalities, one of which is the 1K4Cancer. The campaign is a cancer drug fund and crowd fundraiser that appeals for a minimum donation worth $2.50. Launched in October 2012 (for 3 months), and relaunched in March 2018, 1K4Cancer provides treatment aid to breast cancer patients. Aim: To raise funds and provide access to cancer care to indigent breast cancer patients. Strategy/Tactics: The 1K4Cancer campaign reaches out to individuals/organizations by leveraging on social media, relationship management with donors and several 1K4Cancer ambassadors to engage networks to raise funds to support cancer treatment and screening services. This strategy has an online and offline component, with the offline driving the online component. Program process: The 1K4Cancer runs under 7 broad categories: Community events: Focus on advocacy and education on cancer prevention and early detection. Health talks and the 1K4Cancer appeal are delivered during community outreaches. Online community engagements: partnerships with online blogs and influencers to promote the campaign were secured. The social media community was engaged in heartwarming messages and call-to-action statements to support indigent cancer patients. Media partnership: partnerships with online and traditional media houses were secured. The 1K4Cancer message was published on several eminent blogs. Relationship management with donors: past and prospective donors were engaged to promote the campaign. 1K4Cancer remains transparent and accountable through an online monthly newsletter. Donation collection: donations were made through online bank transfer and Sebeccly's online donation platforms. Volunteers: recruitment of 1K4Cancer volunteers who helped to promote and create more awareness about the campaign offline. Partnerships with hospitals: the beneficiaries of the campaign receive cancer care at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. Costs and returns: $2715 has been spent on online adverts, branding materials, creatives, publications, administrative charges, and logistics. Total returns so far: $15,384. What was learned: Leveraging on goodwill, accountability, the Internet, and a compelling story are necessary ingredients to a crowd-funding campaign. The 1K4Cancer is an innovative crowd-funding campaign that relieves the financial burden of cancer patients and help achieve access to quality cancer care.

scholarly journals Fear of receiving less effective care: A barrier to effective cancer care cost communication.

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (suppl) ◽  
pp. 8-8
Author(s):  
Sokbom Kang ◽  
Ye Lee Yu
Keyword(s):  
Effective Treatment ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Considerable Proportion ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Financial Status ◽  
Cost Effective Treatment ◽  
The Cost ◽  
To Receive

8 Background: Increasing financial burden in cancer care promoted cost communication as an intervention to the problem. We explored patients’ attitudes and concerns for the physician-patient communication of the costs of cancer care. Methods: From an oncology outpatient clinic, patients were recruited and interviewed using a 29-item questionnaire. The questionnaire includes basic and financial characteristics, attitudes toward cost-communication, and experience of cost-communication with oncologists. Results: Among 292 patients with gynecologic cancer, 68% were found to have an income below the nation’s average households income. Although the majority (81%) of patients have a positive attitude toward patient-physician cancer care cost-communication, however, only 19% of them wanted to discuss the cost with their physicians - 33% of them did not want to disclose their financial status to health care providers and 48% wanted to discuss the cost with other providers than their physicians. In addition, while 87% preferred to be informed about costs for various treatment options, 86% of them did not want to receive cost-effective treatment and preferred to receive the most effective treatment regardless of their financial status. Compared with non-cancer patients (n = 83), significantly more patients had a negative attitude to disclosing their financial status especially to their physician (22% vs. 11%, P = 0.024). Conclusions: A considerable proportion of cancer patients had concerns that cost communication with their physician may interfere with their opportunity to access the best care options. To facilitate cost communication, oncologists should understand such concerns and making a thoughtful effort to relieve the concern during cost communication.

scholarly journals What was the impact of COVID-19 on Adolescent and Young Adult cancer care and their wellbeing? Results from a cross-sectional online survey conducted in the early stages of the pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Urska Kosir ◽  
Maria Elizabeth Loades ◽  
Jennifer Wild ◽  
Milan Wiedemann ◽  
Alen Krajnc ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Young People ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Young Patients ◽  
Adolescent And Young Adult ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

Background: Due to the global spread of COVID-19, oncology departments across the world rapidly adapted their cancer care protocols, balancing the risk of delaying cancer treatments and risk of COVID-19 exposure. COVID-19 and associated changes may have an impact on psycho-social functioning of cancer patients and survivors. We wanted to understand the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on young people living with and beyond cancer.Method: In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed 177 individuals, aged 18 - 39 years, about the impact of COVID-19 on their cancer care and psychological wellbeing. Participants also reported their information needs relating to COVID-19. Responses were summarized using content analysis approach. Results: This is the first study to examine psychological functioning of young patients and survivors during the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic. Close to a third of respondents reported increased levels of psychological distress, and as many as 60% reported feeling more anxious than they did prior to COVID-19. More than half also wanted more information tailored to them as young cancer patients. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly evolving and changing the landscape of cancer care. Young people living with cancer are a unique population and might be more vulnerable during this time compared to their healthy peers. There is a need to screen for psychological distress and attend to young people whose cancer care has been delayed. As the lockdown begins to ease, the guidelines about cancer care should be updated according to this population’s needs.

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