Pilot Study of Financial Navigation Program for Improving Financial Toxicity Among Breast Cancer in China

Pilot Study of Financial Navigation Program for Improving Financial Toxicity Among Breast Cancer in China

The goal of this pilot study is to access the feasibility and impact of a financial navigation program on improving financial toxicity among patients with breast cancer in China.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Is the intervention feasible and acceptable among participants?
• Does the intervention enhance participants' cost-related health literacy?
• Does the intervention reduce participants' financial toxicity?

Researchers will compare the financial navigation program with usual oncology care to preliminarily evaluate its effectiveness.

Participants will receive comprehensive information support, including:

• Strategies on patient-physician costs discussion
• Skills for inquiring and tracking treatment-related costs
• Basic knowledge about health insurance
• Guidance on accessing and applying for financial assistance
• Suggestions for returning to normal life and work
• Strategies for holding a financial-related family meeting

Inclusion Criteria:

• (1) Newly diagnosed with breast cancer and undergoing surgery during this admission;
• (2) Female, age 18 years or older;
• (3) Receiving or expected to receive one or more of the following therapies: chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy;
• (4) Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status 0-2;
• (5) Provided informed consent to participate in this study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• (1) Diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
• (2) Presence of any serious psychiatric disorders;
• (3) Cognitive impairments;
• (4) Difficulty in reading, writing, or communicating in Chinese.