Purpose

This trial aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of colorectal survivors approached and engaged in HINT and aims to assess the preliminary efficacy of HINT to improve 1) health insurance literacy and 2) financial burden related to medical cost concerns colorectal survivors. The study investigators propose that, compared to the control arm (who will receive a health insurance information guide, but will not receive the navigation intervention), participants in the HINT intervention arm will have improved health insurance literacy and decreased financial distress related to medical costs.

Conditions

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 18 Years and 65 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • patients who are18-65 years of age - patients who are 1) approximately 6 months to 5 years posttreatment for stages I-III colon or rectal cancer or 2) approximately more than 3 months post-diagnosis for stage IV colon or rectal cancer at the time of screening - patients who had a medical visit at MGH in the past two years - patients who have medical insurance - patients who speak English - patients who have access to an iPad, computer, smartphone or laptop with WIFI access

Exclusion Criteria

  • patients who are younger than 18 years of age or older than 65 years of age - patients who are unable to give consent due to psychiatric or cognitive impairment - patients who lack of access to a smartphone, computer, or tablet with internet access - patients who do not currently have health insurance

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Single Group Assignment
Intervention Model Description
Intervention and Usual care
Primary Purpose
Health Services Research
Masking
None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Navigation Intervention
The intervention will be delivered via synchronous videoconferencing (real-time delivery and communication between the navigator and the participant) by a trained patient navigator and will consist of 5, 30-minute sessions delivered every week. The navigation intervention group will also receive an online or mailed copy of the health insurance resource guide.
  • Behavioral: Health Insurance Navigation Tools Program
    The program will be delivered via videoconferencing by a navigator over a 3-month period and will consist of 5 sessions. The navigation intervention sessions will be as follows: Session 1- Insurance Plan Basics; Session 2- Your Plan in Relation to Legal Policy; Session 3- Navigating Your Own Plan and Overcoming Obstacles; Session 4- Managing Care Costs; Session 5- Understanding Your Medical Bills.
No Intervention
Enhanced Usual Care
Enhanced usual care will consist of an online or mailed health insurance resource guide.

Recruiting Locations

Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts 02114
Contact:
Elyse R Park, Ph.D.
617-724-6836
epark@mgh.harvard.edu

MGH
Boston, Massachusetts 02114

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Massachusetts General Hospital

Study Contact

Elyse R Park, Ph.D.
617-724-6836
epark@mgh.harvard.edu

Detailed Description

With support from the American Cancer Society, Dr. Park designed a 5-session health insurance navigation treatment program, Health Insurance Navigation Tools (HINT), that is currently being delivered remotely, as a collaboration with the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Given the current insurance landscape and the additional insurance burden that adult colorectal cancer survivors face, the present study seeks to conduct a pilot trial with the existing health insurance intervention and adult colorectal cancer survivors seen at MGH Cancer Centers to improve health insurance literacy and decrease financial burden related to medical costs. The present study seeks to develop and pilot a health insurance navigation program with adult colorectal cancer survivors recruited from MGH. Patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer have a higher risk of experiencing financial burden related to health care costs when compared to patients diagnosed with other types of cancer. While many cancer survivors report experiencing financial burden, financial burden is particularly acute among survivors of colorectal cancer. Outcomes of financial burden among colorectal cancer survivors include lower health related quality of life, employment concerns, and delay or lack of engagement in needed surveillance and follow-up care. Understanding and navigating insurance benefits in the current landscape is crucial for colorectal cancer survivors to obtain and utilize the health care that they need. With this in mind, the study investigators propose to develop and pilot an insurance navigation intervention to examine its feasibility and acceptability among colorectal cancer survivors receiving care at the MGH.

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.