Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41074759›Full record

ArticleJCO oncology practice2025

Screened but Still Struggling: Challenges in Delivering Financial Assistance After Positive Financial Toxicity Screens.

Joshua A Budhu, Amy L Tin, Melanie Steele, Stephanie Doyle, Francesca Gany, Cleopatra Elshiekh, Amy Caramore, Stefania Sokolowski, Lana Vega, Bayley Sharma and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JCO oncology practice, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–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

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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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

15 authors.

Joshua A BudhuDepartment of Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.ORCID 0000-0002-8923-9784
Amy L TinDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.ORCID 0000-0002-8005-0694
Melanie SteelePatient Financial Services, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
Stephanie DoylePatient Financial Services, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
Francesca GanyImmigrant and Cancer Disparities Service, Department of Psychiatry, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.ORCID 0000-0003-0684-2367
Cleopatra ElshiekhImmigrant and Cancer Disparities Service, Department of Psychiatry, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
Amy CaramoreDepartment of Nursing, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York NY.ORCID 0000-0002-1838-8432
Stefania SokolowskiDepartment of Strategy and Growth, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
Lana VegaDepartment of Strategy and Growth, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.
Bayley SharmaDepartment of Nursing, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York NY.
Victoria BlinderImmigrant and Cancer Disparities Service, Department of Psychiatry, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.ORCID 0000-0002-1448-8671
Emeline Mariam AvikiDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, New York University Langone Health, Mineola, NY.ORCID 0000-0003-0891-9399
Andrew J VickersDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.ORCID 0000-0003-1525-6503
Fumiko ChinoDepartment of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.ORCID 0000-0003-0498-488X
Bridgette ThomSchool of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.ORCID 0000-0001-6239-1666

Funding

X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHYP30CA008748 · NCI · SLOAN-KETTERING INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RES · PI Nicholas D Socci · 1985 to 2026
$347.4M
MSK Paul Calabresi Career Development Award for Clinical OncologyK12CA184746 · NCI · SLOAN-KETTERING INST CAN RESEARCH · PI Omar Abdel-Wahab, Simon N. Powell · 2015 to 2026
$8.3M
NCI NIH HHS K12 CA184746NCI NIH HHS P30 CA008748
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeFinancial toxicity can negatively affect treatment adherence, quality of life, and survival in patients with cancer. Although screening for financial toxicity is increasingly implemented across oncology practices and cancer centers, less is known about challenges in delivering timely interventions after a positive screen. We evaluated outcomes and barriers in a systematic financial toxicity screening and referral program at a large comprehensive cancer center.

methodsFrom March 2023 to December 2024, patients in breast, gynecologic, GI, and thoracic oncology clinics at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center completed an electronic survey assessing health-related social risks and the 12-item Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST). A positive screen was defined as COST <16, unmet essential need, or new loan/borrowing for treatment. Patients screening positive and requesting assistance were referred to Patient Financial Services (PFS) for follow-up. Outcomes included proportions with documented outreach, receipt of any intervention, intervention types, and barriers.

resultsA total of 83,978 patients were eligible; of whom 50,949 (61%) completed screening. Of 9,724 positive screens, 8,004 (82%) requested follow-up, and 6,987 referrals were placed. PFS attempted follow-up in 3,383 patients (of the 6,987 = 48%), with documented interventions in 1,510 of 3,383 (45%). Counseling on financial resources (983/3,383 = 29%) was most common, followed by insurance-related counseling (402/3,383 = 12%) and formal program referrals (823/3,383 = 24%). Among patients referred to assistance programs, this was most often to the institutional Financial Assistance Program (438/796 = 55%) or social work (318/796 = 40%). The most frequent barrier was the inability to contact patients (1,464/3,383 = 43%).

conclusionRoutine financial toxicity screening was implemented at scale and connected many patients to meaningful financial support. However, 81% of those who screened positive did not receive an intervention, underscoring the need for expanded infrastructure and policy reforms to address financial toxicity in cancer care.

Indexed as

NeoplasmsAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedQuality of Life

Identifiers

PMID41074759
PMCPMC12671931

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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.