Socioeconomic factors were associated with reliance on cost-coping strategies. Patients with Medicaid used more financial coping strategies compared to patients with private insurance (Odds Ratio (OR), 42.3; p = 0.005). In addition, increased out-of-pocket costs and decreased wealth were independently associated with the use of cost-coping strategies (p < 0.01).

“Physical side effects are not the only ones our patients endure,” said Sunny Kung, a second-year medical student at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and lead author on the study. ”Our findings indicate that the majority of our patients have adopted or will adopt strategies to cope with the financial side effects of their care.”


The study also examined prevalence of perceived social isolation among LAHNC patients and its association with socioeconomic factors and health care utilization. Researchers identified perceived isolation in seven of the 73 patients (9.5 percent) prior to treatment. Patients who reported high perceived social isolation were more likely to be unemployed (p = 0.02) and divorced or widowed (p < 0.001).

High perceived social isolation prior to treatment predicted lower health care utilization in the following six months. Compared to LAHNC patients with adequate social support, those in the perceived social isolation cohort reported more days missing prescribed medication (21.4 vs. 5.45 days over six months, p = 0.02), more missed appointments (7 vs. 3 appointments, p = 0.007), and longer inpatient hospital stays (32.7 vs. 27.6 days over six months, p = 0.17).

“Many of the patients we treat for advanced head and neck cancers may need support beyond their medical care,” said Ms. Kung. “Social interventions can be introduced for patients who feel isolated in order to minimize financial burden while maximizing effective health care utilization. For example, providers can work with patient navigators to improve adherence to medical care among vulnerable populations.”

The abstract, “Cost-coping Strategies and Perceived Social Isolation in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer,” will be presented in detail as a poster presentation at the 2016 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium in Scottsdale, Arizona. To speak with Ms. Kung, contact the ASTRO media relations team at 480-905-7935 (February 18-19 only), 703-286-1600 or press@astro.org.

The 2016 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium is sponsored by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the American Head & Neck Society (AHNS). The two-and-a-half day meeting includes interactive educational sessions focused on topics such as novel multidisciplinary therapies, directed therapy, treatment guidelines, prevention, surveillance and supportive care, as well as 13 oral abstract presentations of the current science of relevance to the head and neck cancer community. A total of 262 abstracts will be presented, including 249 posters. Keynote speakers include Tanguy Seiwert, MD, of the University of Chicago, to present “Immunotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer;” Robert I. Haddad, MD, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, to present “Personalized Treatment for Head and Neck Cancer -- The Time is Now;” Quynh-Thu Le, MD, FASTRO, of the Stanford School of Medicine, to present “Precision Therapy in Head and Neck Cancer -- From Technology to Biomarker-based Risk Stratification;” and Neil Hayes, MD, MPH, of the UNC School of Medicine, to present “Genome Atlas and Sequencing Data: How We Use This Going Forward.”

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