Efficacy of Structured SOcial COnsultation and Support in Reducing the FINancial Burden of Radiotherapy
Objectives:

Assess the extent of financial burden of patients undergoing radiotherapy
Identify clinical and socio-economical factors correlated with the occurrence and extent of financial toxicity
Design a structured social consultation to reduce financial burden induced by radiotherapy

Inclusion criteria:

age ≥ 18 years of age
indication for radiation treatment of a malignant disease
Karnofsky Performance score (KPS) ≥ 70%
Life expectancy ≥ 3 months

Exclusion criteria:

Inability to provide informed consent
Inability to attend study visits and fulfill data collection requirements
Simultaneous participation in other studies which could interfere with this study Primary outcome: Financial burden as expressed by the COST score, measured at baseline and 3 months after completion of radiotherapy

Secondary outcomes:

Socio-Economic factors at baseline
Health-related quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30) at baseline and 3 months
Depression (PHQ-9) at baseline and 3 months
Coping mechanisms to address financial burden

Primary Endpoint: Influence of secondary outcomes on changes of the primary outcome (COST-Score) between baseline and 3 months.

Secondary Endpoints:

Changes in the COST-Score over time
Changes in PHQ-9 over time
Changes in EORTC QLQ-C30 over time

This is an exploratory pilot study. To assess the compliance and effectiveness of the used methods all patients willing to participate in the given time period will be enrolled.

To be assessed for eligibility: n = 300 To be allocated/randomised (if applicable) to trial: n = 150 To be analysed: n = 120
- EligibilityCriteria: Inclusion Criteria:  cancer diagnosis with indication for radiation Karnofsky index minimum 70% able to consent minimum 18 years old  Exclusion Criteria:  Inability to provide informed consent Inability to attend study visits and fulfill data collection requirements Simultaneous participation in other studies which could interfere with this study - Gender: All - MinimumAge: 18 Years - StdAgeList: Adult, Older Adult - StudyPopulation: All patients who are about to receive radiotherapy due to a malignancy are eligible. They must meet the inclusion criteria. - SamplingMethod: Non-Probability Sample