New Colon Cancer Study Findings Recently Were Reported by Researchers at University of Kentucky (The Association of Health Insurance Literacy and Numeracy With Financial Toxicity and Hardships Among Colorectal Cancer Survivors)

2021 MAR 26 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- A new study on Oncology - Colon Cancer is now available. According to news reporting originating in Lexington, Kentucky, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “In this study, we examined the association of financial hardship measured by material financial burden and financial toxicity with health insurance literacy and numeracy among colorectal cancer survivors. The lack of evidence on the impact of cost-related health literacy, specifically health insurance literacy and numeracy, on financial toxicity among cancer survivors warrants further research.”

Financial support for this research came from American Cancer Society.

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from the University of Kentucky, “Between January and November 2019, we used a cross-sectional research design to collect surveys from 104 colorectal cancer survivors (diagnosed within last 5 years) from the Kentucky Cancer Registry. Survey items assessed health insurance literacy (measured by confidence and behaviors in choosing and using health insurance), numeracy, material financial burden, and financial toxicity, in addition to socio-demographic variables. Survey data were subsequently linked to the participant’s cancer registry record. Data were analyzed using descriptive, bivariate, and multiple linear regression analyses. The mean financial toxicity score was 24.5, with scores ranging from 3 to 43 (higher scores indicating greater financial toxicity). Eighty percent of participants indicated they had experienced one or more material burdens related to their cancer. The majority had adequate health insurance (79%); however, the majority also had low numeracy (84%). After controlling for socio-demographic covariates, significant predictors of greater financial toxicity were high material burden scores, low health insurance literacy, and low numeracy.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Findings indicate the need to develop programs and interventions aimed at improving health insurance literacy and numeracy as a strategy for reducing financial toxicity and hardships among colorectal cancer survivors.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: The Association of Health Insurance Literacy and Numeracy With Financial Toxicity and Hardships Among Colorectal Cancer Survivors. Supportive Care in Cancer, 2021. Supportive Care in Cancer can be contacted at: Springer, One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, Ny, United States. (Springer - www.springer.com; Supportive Care in Cancer - http://www.springerlink.com/content/0941-4355/)

Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Jean S. Edward, University of Kentucky, College of Nursing, 751 Rose St, Room 557, Lexington, KY 40536, United States. Additional authors for this research include Mary Kay Rayens, Xiaomei Zheng and Robin C. Vanderpool.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06036-9. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

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