Assessing Training Practices and Gaps for Staff Involved in the Delivery of Oncology Financial Navigation: A Qualitative Study

Financial hardship affects 30–70% of cancer patients and is associated with worse quality-of-life outcomes and higher mortality. In response, many health systems have implemented financial navigation teams to mitigate financial hardship and provide financial guidance to cancer patients. Currently, there is a lack of standardization in financial navigation training. Our primary objective was to assess current training practices and gaps that may exist in critical information and tools for day-to-day operations for individuals providing financial navigation services. Our secondary objective was to supplement findings from the interviews with a web-based search for training resources that would be helpful in these roles. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted over a video-based conferencing platform in the United States of America with nine individuals in varying roles related to financial navigation. Thematic analysis was conducted by investigators to identify common themes using a constant comparative method. Current financial navigation training practices were found to be less structured and comprehensive than desired, largely relying on experiential “on the job” learning. Participants expressed the need for more multi-dimensional training that covers insurance, cancer treatment and associated costs, financial resources, and an emphasis on developing soft skills to navigate the sensitive topics of cancer and cancer costs. The findings contribute to the development of more standardized trainings that incorporate dissemination of crucial financial information in a compassionate manner. A web-based search was also performed to create a compilation of available financial navigation training resources.