Helping cancer care teams talk about treatment costs
DISCO Provider: A Multi-level Intervention to Reduce Financial Toxicity in Patients With Cancer Through Improved Treatment Cost Discussions
NA · Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute · NCT07042191
This project tests a provider-facing program that helps cancer care teams talk about treatment costs to reduce patients' financial stress.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Detroit, Michigan) |
| Trial ID | NCT07042191 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This program develops and pilots a multi-level communication intervention aimed at reducing financial toxicity by improving how oncology providers discuss treatment costs. Twenty oncology care providers at Karmanos Cancer Institute (Detroit and Farmington Hills) will complete a baseline survey and take part in two one-on-one meetings: one for intervention development and one for pilot testing. Investigators will present DISCO Provider wireframes, offer evidence-based conversation strategies, and conduct audio-recorded interviews and needs assessments to gather feedback on content, organization, website design, and implementation. Findings will inform a provider companion intervention to pair with the DISCO patient app.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal participants are oncology care providers at Karmanos Cancer Institute—medical oncologists, nurses, social workers, and advanced practice providers—who treat patients at the Detroit or Farmington Hills clinics.
Not a fit: Patients who are not treated at Karmanos Cancer Institute or whose providers do not participate or adopt the intervention are unlikely to see direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help providers have clearer cost conversations so patients face less financial stress and can make treatment decisions that fit their budgets.
How similar studies have performed: This work builds on the DISCO patient-facing app currently in testing and on prior research showing that structured communication can improve cost conversations, but the specific DISCO Provider companion is novel and unproven.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Oncology care providers at Karmanos Cancer Institute (KCI)/Wayne State University(WSU) including medical oncologists, nurses, social workers and advance practice providers who treat cancer patients at KCI Detroit or Farmington Hills clinics Exclusion Criteria: \-
Where this trial is running
Detroit, Michigan
- Karmanos Cancer Institute — Detroit, Michigan, United States (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Lauren M Hamel, PhD — Wayne State University
- Study coordinator: Lauren M Hamel, PhD
- Email: hamell@karmanos.org
- Phone: 13135769672
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Healthy, Financial Toxicity