Development of the Oncology Opportunity Cost Assessment Tool

NCT04694911 | Completed DMC

• 2 other identifiers: 19G.854JT 14788
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study develops and tests an instrument to measure opportunity costs called the Oncology Opportunity Cost Assessment Tool (OOCAT) in cancer patients. Patients experience significant costs, both direct financial as well as indirect costs, associated with seeking cancer treatment. While the direct financial impact of care on patients is receiving increased attention, other important consequences, such as opportunity cost, remain largely unmeasured. Opportunity cost is an economics term that refers to the loss of potential benefits from other options when one option is chosen - if resources are used for one purpose, they are no longer available for the next best option. The information and knowledge gained from this study may help researchers develop the OOCAT, which may allow them to understand the opportunity cost of treatment for each patient. The OOCAT may then be used to determine not just the best medications for patients, but also the best comprehensive treatment plan that will allow them to get the right treatment in the right place at the right time.

Conditions

Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Cell Neoplasm; Malignant Solid Neoplasm

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Patient-level opportunity costs associated with oncology care

  Patient-identified themes that contribute to opportunity cost will be generated via patient focus groups

  1 Day of Interview

• Development of the Oncology Opportunity Cost Assessment Tool (OOCAT)

  Will organize themes into domains and will generate items representing each of the themes for inclusion in an instrument designed to measure patient opportunity cost of seeking care. Will perform cognitive interviews with a random sampling of patients from the cancer center to test initial instrument items to ensure content validity and clarity of each item.

  1 Day of Interview

• Implementation of OOCAT

  Will test the instrument as developed with patients receiving oncology care across the Jefferson Health System to gather preliminary data informing the reliability of the scale to measure opportunity cost of seeking care.

  1 Day of OOCAT administration

Study Arms (1)

Health Services Research (focus group, interview, OOCAT)

FOCUS GROUP: Patients participate in focus group session over 60-90 minutes. COGNITIVE INTERVIEW: Patients complete cognitive interview on the clarity, interpretability, and ease of use of the OOCAT. FEASIBILITY TESTING: Patients receive OOCAT at the point of care, online, or via telephone, per patients' preference.

Behavioral: Focus Group; Other: Interview; Other: Research or Clinical Assessment Tool

Interventions

Focus Group BEHAVIORAL

Participate in focus group

Health Services Research (focus group, interview, OOCAT)

Interview OTHER

Complete cognitive interview

Health Services Research (focus group, interview, OOCAT)

Research or Clinical Assessment Tool OTHER

Receive OOCAT

Also known as: Clinical Assessment Tool, Clinical Assessment Tool, Clinical or Research Assessment Tool

Health Services Research (focus group, interview, OOCAT)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: male
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients treated for cancer at Jefferson Center City, Jefferson Methodist Hospital, or Jefferson Abington

You may qualify if:

• Treated for cancer at one of the 3 participating sites (Jefferson Center City, Jefferson Methodist Hospital, Jefferson Abington)
• English speaking
• Able to attend and participate in a focus group

You may not qualify if:

• Treated at a Jefferson site other than the ones mentioned
• Non-English Speaking

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Thomas Jefferson University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Hematologic Neoplasms

Interventions

Focus Groups; Interviews as Topic

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Hematologic Diseases; Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Data Collection; Epidemiologic Methods; Investigative Techniques; Health Care Evaluation Mechanisms; Quality of Health Care; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Public Health; Environment and Public Health

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 7, 2020
• First Posted: January 5, 2021
• Study Start: November 21, 2019
• Primary Completion: May 11, 2021
• Study Completion: July 31, 2021
• Last Updated: April 29, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-04

Locations

US (1)