Proactive Costs of Care Study

The Proactive Costs of Care (PCOC) study aims to assess whether the Proactive Costs of Care intervention can be successfully delivered to cancer patients or their caregivers and help them deal with the costs of cancer care. Patients who are over 18 years of age or older, diagnosed with gynecologic cancer (e.g. endometrial/uterine, cervical, ovarian, vulvar cancers), on active systemic therapy within 30 days of enrollment, receiving treatment at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and can speak, read, and understand English are eligible to participate. Caregivers of patients who meet the eligibility criteria above are also eligible to participate.

The Proactive Costs of Care Guide and Cost Tracker were developed with the input of patients, caregivers, social workers, nurses, doctors, and other healthcare workers to address financial burden due to the cost of cancer care. The Proactive Costs of Care Guide covers 3 main topics; health insurance, employment, and personal and community support. The Proactive Costs of Care Cost Tracker helps patients or their caregivers track their medical costs. All of the materials are available in a paper version or electronic version.

Participants will complete a baseline survey before the intervention and a follow-up survey 3 months after the intervention. The patient survey will collect demographic information and ask questions about confidence in solving problems, health insurance literacy, financial distress or well-being, and emotional well-being. The caregiver survey will collect demographic information, confidence in solving problems, health insurance literacy, financial distress or well-being, and caregiver strain.

Inclusion criteria

for Patient Participants:

• Individuals 18 years old or older are included.
• Individuals diagnosed with gynecologic cancer
• On active systemic therapy within 30 days of enrollment
• Receiving treatment at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
• Can speak, read, and understand English

Inclusion criteria

for Caregiver Participants:

• Caregivers to patients who satisfy the criteria above

Exclusion criteria

for Patient and Caregiver Participants:

• Any patients whose records are flagged "break the glass" or "research opt out."
• Cannot speak, read, or understand English
• Not willing to participate in the intervention or complete surveys