Observational studyThe oncologist2025
The financial toll of cancer: uncovering the links between financial toxicity and symptom burden.
Observational study in The oncologist, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
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.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Assessing Financial Toxicity in Cancer: A Global Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Using an Asset Framework.Cancer medicine · 2026Pooled it
- Financial hardship in cancer family caregivers: a scoping review.BMC palliative care · 2026Article
- The inverse palliative care law in advanced lung disease: a mixed-methods systematic review and meta-analysis.EClinicalMedicine · 2026Article
- Financial toxicity, social support, and negative emotions among caregivers of children with cancer: a cross-sectional study in Western China.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
13 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeThis prospective observational study investigated the relationship between financial toxicity, symptom burden, disease characteristics and out-of-pocket (OOP) medication use in patients with cancer across 5 Italian institutions.
methodsA cross-sectional survey assessed financial toxicity, symptom burden and OOP costs sustained by patients with cancer using validated questionnaires (COST, PERSONS). Associations between financial toxicity (COST score), symptom burden (PERSONS score) and clinical variables were explored.
resultsAmong 211 respondents, mean COST score was 23 (SD 9.1) and 128 (60%) scored < 26, indicating financial toxicity. Symptom burden measured by the PERSONS score was associated with a higher OOP medications use (r = 0.449, P < .001) and inversely related to financial toxicity (r = -0.431; P < .001). In our study population, median number of OOP drug was 2 (IQR 1-2), most commonly analgesics and laxatives. There was a significantly worse COST score among patients using OOP analgesic: 19.8 (SD 9.5) vs 25.6 (SD 7.9), P < .001 and laxatives: 19.2 (SD 8.2) vs 24.4 [(SD 9.1), P < .00]. Overall, OOP drugs were linked to higher symptom burden (P < .001) and financial toxicity (P < .001).
conclusionsThe severity of symptoms and their management with OOP medications was significantly associated with patients' financial toxicity. These findings highlight the importance of integrating financial toxicity assessment into routine cancer care to optimize patient outcomes and well-being.
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