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Development of the Oncology Opportunity Cost Assessment Tool

Development of the Oncology Opportunity Cost Assessment Tool (OOCAT)

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04694911
Enrollment
40
Registered
2021-01-05
Start date
2019-11-21
Completion date
2021-07-31
Last updated
2025-04-29

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Cell Neoplasm, Malignant Solid Neoplasm

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.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALFocus Group

Participate in focus group

OTHERInterview

Complete cognitive interview

Sponsors

Thomas Jefferson University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum

Inclusion criteria

* 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

Exclusion criteria

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

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Patient-level opportunity costs associated with oncology care1 Day of InterviewPatient-identified themes that contribute to opportunity cost will be generated via patient focus groups
Development of the Oncology Opportunity Cost Assessment Tool (OOCAT)1 Day of InterviewWill 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.
Implementation of OOCAT1 Day of OOCAT administrationWill 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.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026