As the impact of cancer-related financial toxicity is increasingly recognised, greater understanding of Australian healthcare professionals' (HCP) perspectives on how to improve the care and management of cancer-related financial toxicity, including relevant practices, services, and unmet needs is critical.
Methods: We invited Australian HCPs who currently provide frontline cancer care within their workplace to complete an online survey, which was distributed via the networks of Australian clinical oncology professional associations and organisations. The survey was developed by the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia’s Financial Toxicity Working Group and contained 12 open-ended items. These were analysed using descriptive content analysis and NVivo software.
Results: HCPs (n=277) reported that identifying and addressing financial concerns within routine cancer care was vital and most reported that they believed this to be the responsibility of all HCP involved in patient care. However, financial toxicity was seen as a “blind spot” within a medical model of healthcare, with a lack of services, resources, and appropriate training identified as barriers to providing the patient with adequate support in this domain. Social workers reported that while assessment and advocacy were a part of their role, there lacked sufficient formal training and appropriate referral services for complex financial issues and laws. HCPs reported positive attitudes towards transparent discussions of costs and actioning cost-reduction strategies within their control, but feelings of helplessness when they perceived no solution was available.
Conclusion: Identifying financial needs and providing transparent information about cancer-related costs was viewed as a cross-disciplinary responsibility, however, a lack of training and services limited the provision of support. Increased cancer-specific financial counselling and advocacy, via dedicated roles or developing HCPs’ skills, is urgently needed within the healthcare system.