Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27036177›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2016

Patient-physician discussions about costs: definitions and impact on cost conversation incidence estimates.

Wynn G Hunter, Ashley Hesson, J Kelly Davis, Christine Kirby, Lillie D Williamson, Jamison A Barnett, Peter A Ubel

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC health services research, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 37 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
37citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

37 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Communication of costs and financial burdens between cancer patients and healthcare providers: a qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2023
    Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
  4. Journal of adolescent and young adult oncology · 2025
    Article
  5. Understanding cancer survivor cost communication experiences and preferences.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. There's no place like home: optimizing the antepartum inpatient experience.Maternal health, neonatology and perinatology · 2024
    Article
  11. Observational
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Medication affordability discussions with older adults in primary care.Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy · 2023
    Article
  15. Article
  16. Review
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Impact of Cost Conversation on Decision-Making Outcomes.Mayo Clinic proceedings. Innovations, quality & outcomes · 2021
    Article
  20. Using Shared Decision-Making Tools and Patient-Clinician Conversations About Costs.Mayo Clinic proceedings. Innovations, quality & outcomes · 2020
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Wynn G HunterDuke University, School of Medicine, 4906 Glendarion Drive, Durham, NC, 27713, USA. wynn.hunter@duke.edu.
Ashley HessonMichigan State University, College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, MI, USA.
J Kelly DavisDuke University, Fuqua School of Business, Durham, NC, USA.
Christine KirbyDuke University, Fuqua School of Business, Durham, NC, USA.
Lillie D WilliamsonUniversity of Illinois, Department of Communication, Champaign, IL, USA.
Jamison A BarnettVerilogue Incorporated, Horsham, PA, USA.
Peter A UbelDuke University, School of Medicine, 4906 Glendarion Drive, Durham, NC, 27713, USA.

Funding

Duke CTSA (Composite)TL1TR001116 · NCATS · DUKE UNIVERSITY · PI BOULWARE, LEIGH E, KRAFT, MONICA · 2013 to 2017
$1.2M
NCATS NIH HHS TL1 TR001116NCATS NIH HHS TL1TR001116
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNearly one in three Americans are financially burdened by their medical expenses. To mitigate financial distress, experts recommend routine physician-patient cost conversations. However, the content and incidence of these conversations are unclear, and rigorous definitions are lacking. We sought to develop a novel set of cost conversation definitions, and determine the impact of definitional variation on cost conversation incidence in three clinical settings.

methodsRetrospective, mixed-methods analysis of transcribed dialogue from 1,755 outpatient encounters for routine clinical management of breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and depression, occurring between 2010-2014. We developed cost conversation definitions using summative content analysis. Transcripts were evaluated independently by at least two members of our multi-disciplinary team to determine cost conversation incidence using each definition. Incidence estimates were compared using Pearson's Chi-Square Tests.

resultsThree cost conversation definitions emerged from our analysis: (a) Out-of-Pocket (OoP) Cost--discussion of the patient's OoP costs for a healthcare service; (b) Cost/Coverage--discussion of the patient's OoP costs or insurance coverage; (c) Cost of Illness- discussion of financial costs or insurance coverage related to health or healthcare. These definitions were hierarchical; OoP Cost was a subset of Cost/Coverage, which was a subset of Cost of Illness. In each clinical setting, we observed significant variation in the incidence of cost conversations when using different definitions; breast oncology: 16, 22, 24% of clinic visits contained cost conversation (OOP Cost, Cost/Coverage, Cost of Illness, respectively; P < 0.001); depression: 30, 38, 43%, (P < 0.001); and rheumatoid arthritis, 26, 33, 35%, (P < 0.001).

conclusionsThe estimated incidence of physician-patient cost conversation varied significantly depending on the definition used. Our findings and proposed definitions may assist in retrospective interpretation and prospective design of investigations on this topic.

Indexed as

CommunicationHealth ExpendituresPhysician-Patient RelationsAdultAgedArthritis, RheumatoidCosts and Cost AnalysisFemaleFinancing, PersonalHumansInternal MedicineMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesRetrospective StudiesYoung AdultCost of illnessHealth expendituresMedical decision-makingOut-of-pocket costsPatient-centered carePatient-physician communication

Identifiers

PMID27036177
PMCPMC4815215

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.