Pilot Randomized Study of a Proactive Financial Navigation Intervention in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Gastric and Gastroesophageal Junction (GEJ) Adenocarcinoma
Pilot Randomized Study of a Proactive Financial Navigation Intervention in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Gastric and Gastroesophageal Junction (GEJ) Adenocarcinoma
This trial studies how well a financial navigation intervention works in improving financial and clinical outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. Financial toxicity is a term used to summarize cancer-related financial hardship, including both the material (e.g. debt) and psychological (e.g. anxiety about costs) aspects. Cancer patients who experience financial toxicity are at greater risk for treatment non-adherence, poorer quality of life, and worse survival. Caregivers also share in this experience of financial toxicity and often spend money on food, medications, and other patient needs in addition to taking time off from work to provide logistical, emotional, and medical support. Financial navigation interventions that address the shared household financial concerns of patients and their caregivers may not only improve the patient outcomes but also improve caregiver burden, quality of life, and ability to perform caregiver roles more effectively.
OUTLINE: Participants are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.
ARM I (FINANCIAL NAVIGATION PROGRAM): Patients and caregivers watch a web-based financial literacy video and receive information about financial counseling, direct medical cost and healthcare coverage assistance, and indirect and non-medical cost assistance.
ARM II (USUAL CARE): Patients and caregivers participate in usual clinic procedures and utilize any available clinic or community-based financial resources.
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
• PATIENT: Enrolled in hospice care at the time of enrollment