Cancer Research and Treatment

Original Articles

General

Which Chemotherapy-Related Terms Were Difficult for Cancer Patients, and Who Would Have the Most Difficulties?: Mangyeong Lee, Nayeon Kim, Ho-Young Kim, Ayoung Lee, Junghee Yoon, Juhee Cho; Cancer Res Treat. 2025;57(3):669-677. Published online December 3, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2024.485

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Purpose
This cross-sectional study aimed to examine which chemotherapy (CTx) terms were most difficult to understand for cancer patients and identify vulnerable patient populations who might need extra support to understand the terms.
Materials and Methods
We listed 56 CTx-related terms based on the experts’ review, then 300 cancer patients and their caregivers completed a questionnaire that assessed literacy in CTx terms (LCT), functional health literacy, and empowerment. Descriptive analysis was performed to examine which CTx-related terms were most difficult for them. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with LCT level.
Results
Of the total 300 people, 162 (54.0%) were in the low-scoring group in LCT. Low-scoring group had a higher proportion of males, lower monthly income, and lived at the province, compared to the high scoring group. The participants tended to have difficulties in understanding terms related to blood count, risk of infection, and symptoms written in Sino-Korean. In the multivariable logistic regression, male participants (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.48 to 4.62), those with no cancer-related information-seeking (aOR, 4.32; 95% CI, 1.75 to 12.33), and those with low empowerment (aOR, 3.07; 95% CI, 1.83 to 5.23) were more likely to have a low level of LCT.
Conclusion
There were still linguistic health literacy challenges faced by cancer patients and their caregivers, specifically in understanding chemotherapy-related terms. Minimizing medical jargon and Sino-Korean terms and empowering patients to be ready for treatment are necessary.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Exploring the Perspectives of Lung Cancer Chemotherapy Patients on Self-Management: A Qualitative Interview Study Using the COM-B Model
Ruimei Jia, Nina Xie, Yue Li, Yu Zhang
Patient Preference and Adherence.2025; Volume 19: 1991. CrossRef

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Effectiveness of Self-Assessment, TAilored Information, and Lifestyle Management for Cancer Patients’ Returning to Work (START): A Multi-center, Randomized Controlled Trial: Danbee Kang, Ka Ryeong Bae, Yeojin Ahn, Nayeon Kim, Seok Jin Nam, Jeong Eon Lee, Se Kyung Lee, Young Mog Shim, Dong Hyun Sinn, Seung Yeop Oh, Mison Chun, Jaesung Heo, Juhee Cho; Cancer Res Treat. 2023;55(2):419-428. Published online November 8, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2022.939

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Purpose
We developed a comprehensive return to work (RTW) intervention covering physical, psycho-social and practical issues for patients newly diagnosed and evaluated its efficacy in terms of RTW.
Materials and Methods
A multi-center randomized controlled trial was done to evaluate the efficacy of the intervention conducted at two university-based cancer centers in Korea. The intervention program comprised educational material at diagnosis, a face-to-face educational session at completion of active treatment, and three individualized telephone counseling sessions. The control group received other education at enrollment.
Results
At 1-month post-intervention (T2), the intervention group was more likely to be working compared to the control group after controlling working status at diagnosis (65.4% vs. 55.9%, p=0.037). Among patients who did not work at baseline, the intervention group was 1.99-times more likely to be working at T2. The mean of knowledge score was higher in the intervention group compared to the control group (7.4 vs. 6.8, p=0.029). At the 1-year follow-up, the intervention group was 65% (95% confidence interval, 0.78 to 3.48) more likely to have higher odds for having work.
Conclusion
The intervention improved work-related knowledge and was effective in facilitating cancer patients’ RTW.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Trajectories of care dependency and predictors following laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a longitudinal study
Zheng-Ke-Ke Tan, Wen-Zhen Tang, Huan-Huan Wen, Jin-Yan Yi, Bo-Hua Zhong, Qiu-Yan Lang
Frontiers in Oncology.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Psychosocial Adjustment Experiences Among Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Survivors
Jie Jiang, Ming-Hui Yan, Yu-Ying Fan, Jun-E Zhang
Cancer Nursing.2025; 48(4): E230. CrossRef
A visualized and bibliometric analysis of cancer vocational rehabilitation research using CiteSpace
Zebing Luo, Xuejia Liu, Chujun Chen
WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation.2025; 80(2): 567. CrossRef
Supporting Life Adjustment in Patients With Lung Cancer Through a Comprehensive Care Program: Protocol for a Controlled Before-and-After Trial
Wonyoung Jung, Alice Ahn, Genehee Lee, Sunga Kong, Danbee Kang, Dongok Lee, Tae Eun Kim, Young Mog Shim, Hong Kwan Kim, Jongho Cho, Juhee Cho, Dong Wook Shin
JMIR Research Protocols.2024; 13: e54707. CrossRef

7,882 View
157 Download
3 Web of Science
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Breast cancer

Validation of Korean Version of the COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity (COST) Among Breast Cancer Survivors: Sungkeun Shim, Danbee Kang, Nayeon Kim, Gayeon Han, Jihyun Lim, Hyunsoo Kim, Jeonghyun Park, Mankyung Lee, Jeong Eon Lee, Seok Won Kim, Jonghan Yu, Byung Joo Chae, Jai Min Ryu, Seok Jin Nam, Se Kyung Lee, Juhee Cho; Cancer Res Treat. 2022;54(3):834-841. Published online October 13, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2021.784

Abstract PDF Supplementary Material PubReader ePub

Purpose
Little is known about the impact of financial toxicity in disease-free breast cancer survivors. We aim to validate the COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity in Korean (COST-K) and evaluate financial toxicity among disease-free breast cancer survivors.
Materials and Methods
We conducted linguistic validation following a standardized methodology recommended by Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy multilingual translation (FACITtrans). For psychometric validation, we conducted a cross-sectional survey with 4,297 disease-free breast cancer survivors at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea between November 2018 and April 2019. Survivors were asked to complete the COST-K and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) questionnaires. The test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and validity of the COST-K were assessed using standard scale construction techniques.
Results
The COST-K demonstrated good internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s α of 0.81. The test-retest analysis revealed an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.78. The COST-K had moderate correlation (r=–0.60) with the financial difficulty item of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and week correlation with the items on acute and chronic symptom burdens (nausea/vomiting, –0.18; constipation, –0.14; diarrhea, –0.14), showing good convergent and divergent validity. The median COST-K was 27 (range, 0 to 44; mean±standard deivation [SD], 27.1±7.5) and about 30% and 5% of cancer survivors experienced mild and severe financial toxicity, respectively. Younger age, lower education, lower household income was associated with higher financial toxicity.
Conclusion
The COST-K is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring financial toxicity in disease-free breast cancer survivors. Considering its impact on the health-related quality of life, more studies need to be conducted to evaluate financial toxicity in cancer survivors and design interventions.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Financial Hardship Among Newly Diagnosed Patients with Lung Cancer and Their Caregivers: A Dyadic Analysis
Shumin Jia, Yongchun Cui, Denise Shuk Ting Cheung, Pui Hing Chau, Chia-Chin Lin
Seminars in Oncology Nursing.2026; 42(1): 152119. CrossRef
Perceived financial toxicity after active treatment and its association with clinical outcomes among breast cancer survivors: A prospective cohort study
Doyoun Woen, Danbee Kang, Juwon Park, Hyunsoo Kim, Su Min Lee, Seok Jin Nam, Seok Won Kim, Jeong Eon Lee, Jong Han Yu, Byung Joo Chae, Jai Min Ryu, Woong Ki Park, Juhee Cho, Se Kyung Lee
The Breast.2026; 85: 104697. CrossRef
A systematic review of financial toxicity measurement instruments for cancer patients based on the COSMIN guideline
Mingfang Jia, Liyi Zhong, Yingxia Luo, Oudong Xia
Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Financial Toxicity in Cervical Cancer Patients Undergoing Radical Treatment With External Beam Radiation and Brachytherapy at a Tertiary New Zealand Radiation Oncology Centre
G. Franklin, P. Larsen, C. Henry, C. Johnson
Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Factors Associated With Financial Toxicity Among Family Caregivers of People Living With Dementia in South Korea: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Suyeon Noh, Hyun Ju Seo, Jeong Lan Kim, Seong Min Kim, Jeong Min Park, Yumi Choi, Hyejeong Yang, Hana Choi
Research in Gerontological Nursing.2026; : 1. CrossRef
Prevalence and Determinants of Financial Toxicity Among Patients with Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Mohammad Akbari, Maryam Seyed-Nezhad, Hassan Karami, Maryam Shirvani-Shiri, Mohammad Moradi-Joo
International Journal of Cancer Management.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Financial Toxicity Among Breast Cancer Patients
Yi Kuang, Xiaoyi Yuan, Zheng Zhu, Weijie Xing
Cancer Nursing.2025; 48(3): e166. CrossRef
Associations between financial toxicity, health-related quality of life, and well-being in Indonesian patients with breast cancer
Stevanus Pangestu, Fredrick Dermawan Purba, Hari Setyowibowo, Clara Mukuria, Fanni Rencz
Quality of Life Research.2025; 34(6): 1709. CrossRef
Trajectories and predictors of financial toxicity in breast cancer patients: A multicenter longitudinal study in China
Yi Kuang, Jiajia Qiu, Ye Liu, Sijin Guo, Ting Chen, Lichen Tang, Winnie K.W. So, Weijie Xing
The Breast.2025; 81: 104441. CrossRef
Cross‐Cultural Validation of the COmprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) Measure in an Australian Sample
Bora Kim, Claudia Rutherford, Lucy Lehane, Judith Fethney, Louise Acret, Tracy King, Patsy Kenny, Richard De Abreu Lourenco, Kate White
Cancer Medicine.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Factors associated with unmet supportive care needs among adult cancer survivors in South Korea: a cross-sectional survey
Dal-Lae Jin, Young Ae Kim, Su Jung Lee, Hyun-Ju Seo, Seok-Jun Yoon
Journal of Cancer Survivorship.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Unraveling the vicious cycle: longitudinal analysis between financial toxicity and symptom burden in women with breast cancer
Yi Kuang, Xiang Qi, Jiajia Qiu, Ye Liu, Sijin Guo, Ting Chen, Lichen Tang, Winnie K. W. So, Weijie Xing
Supportive Care in Cancer.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Associations of Financial Toxicity with Employment Concerns and Cancer-Related Distress: A Cross-Sectional Survey among Korean Working-Age Cancer Survivors
Hyun-Ju Seo, Dal-Lae Jin, Young Ae Kim, Su Jung Lee, Seok-Jun Yoon
Cancer Research and Treatment.2025; 57(3): 659. CrossRef
Breast Cancer Information Grand Round for Survivorship (BIG-S) prospective cohort
Danbee Kang, Juwon Park, Hyunsoo Kim, Jeong Eon Lee, Seok Jin Nam, Seok Won Kim, Jonghan Yu, Byung Joo Chae, Jai Min Ryu, Juhee Cho, Se Kyung Lee
European Journal of Epidemiology.2025; 40(8): 959. CrossRef
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Garrett K. Harada, Eric Ku, Jino Park, Akul Munjal, Nicholas Peterson, Sophie Hsu, Rupali Banker, Shirin Attarian, Erin Healy, Michael Hoyt, Gelareh Sadigh, Allen Chen, Jeremy P. Harris
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Jeremy P. Harris, Eric Ku, Garrett Harada, Sophie Hsu, Elaine Chiao, Pranathi Rao, Erin Healy, Misako Nagasaka, Jessica Humphreys, Michael A. Hoyt
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®.2024; 41(6): 592. CrossRef
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Victoria S. Wu, Xinglei Shen, Janet de Moor, Fumiko Chino, Jonathan Klein
Advances in Radiation Oncology.2024; 9(3): 101419. CrossRef
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PLOS ONE.2024; 19(6): e0306339. CrossRef
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11,202 View
229 Download
25 Web of Science
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