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CancerCHAT-SNCT05829070

Improving Health Insurance Literacy Among Young Adult Cancer Survivors

A study testing CHAT-S in people with Cancer, run by University of Utah at 2 sites in United States.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

We will conduct a randomized controlled trial to test a 4-session virtual health insurance navigation intervention that will increase knowledge about health insurance, reduce financial burden, and improve surveillance for recurrence among 300 young adult cancer survivors ages 26 to 39. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 26 to 45 years
Conditions the study is for
Cancer
What is being tested?
CHAT-S
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
300 participants
Where
2 sitesUnited States
Study dates
8 Nov 2023to Mar 2028
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 26 to 45 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Participants are eligible for this study if they:
  • Were diagnosed with breast, testicular, lymphoma, sarcoma, and colorectal cancer,
  • Are between the ages of 26 to 45 years (preferably between 26-39, but no older than 45),
  • Have completed initial treatment (i.e., radiation, chemotherapy, or surgery) within the past year,
  • Are a patient at the University of Utah/Huntsman Cancer Institute or Intermountain Healthcare, and
  • Speak English.

Who cannot join

  • Potential participants will be excluded if they:
  • Are unable to participate due to developmental delay, and
  • Speak a language other than English, and
  • Unable to participate through either phone or a video capable computer or mobile device (e.g., smartphone, laptop, etc.).

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Amy Chevrier, BS contact

8018881803

amy.chevrier@hci.utah.edu

Cindy Turner, MPH contact

Cindy.Turner@hci.utah.edu

United States2 sites, 2 recruiting
  • Intermountain Health

    Murray, Utah, 84107

    Mark Lewis, MD, 801-507-3630

    Recruiting
  • University of Utah

    Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112

    Anne C Kirchhoff, PhD, 801-587-4084, anne.kirchhoff@hci.utah.edu

    Perla Vaca Lopez, BA, Perla.VacaLopez@hci.utah.edu

    Recruiting

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: A Randomized Controlled Trial to Improve Health Insurance Literacy and Surveillance Among Young Adult Cancer Survivors

We will conduct a randomized controlled trial to test a 4-session virtual health insurance navigation intervention that will increase knowledge about health insurance, reduce financial burden, and improve surveillance for recurrence among 300 young adult cancer survivors ages 26 to 39. We will combine self-reported survey data with electronic health records and claims data to examine the trial outcomes and efficacy. We will also conduct an economic evaluation using cost-effectiveness and budget impact analyses, to establish the sustainability of the intervention at improving outcomes of young adult survivors through increasing their health insurance knowledge and decreasing their financial burden.

Read the detailed description

The first year after cancer treatment ends is a critical time to establish survivorship care for young adult (YA) cancer survivors ages 26 to 39. Receipt of evidence-based survivorship care, including surveillance for cancer recurrence based on national guidelines, remain low among YA survivors. At the same time, YAs ages 26 to 39 have the highest rate of both uninsurance and underinsurance among adults in the United States. Our team's prior work demonstrated that YA cancer survivors report low understanding of their health insurance and the services it covers, which affects their ability to navigate care. Together, these issues can lead to significant access to care barriers and severe medical cost consequences for this population. This proposal addresses the urgent need to improve YA cancer survivors' health insurance literacy and decrease financial toxicity, thus improving their ability to receive recommended survivorship care. Guided by Andersen and Aday's Behavioral Model of Health Services Use, we developed and pilot-tested a 4-session virtual patient navigation intervention for YA cancer survivors that was adapted from a pilot program for childhood cancer survivors. Initial results support feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of both of these pilot trials with YA survivors ages 26 to 39. We now propose a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of this program ("CHAT-S," Cancer Health insurAnce Tools with Survivors) to improve health insurance literacy, financial toxicity due to medical costs, and post-treatment surveillance for recurrence among YA cancer survivors ages 26 to 39 (up to age 45). We plan to randomize N=300 (N=200 intervention; N=100 usual care) YAs with breast, testicular, lymphoma, sarcoma, and colorectal cancer who have completed initial treatment within the past year from 14 locations in the University of Utah Healthcare (UUHC) and Intermountain Healthcare (IH) systems. UUHC and IH have many rural (20%) and Hispanic/Latinx (18%) YA cancer survivors; we will oversample these important subgroups. We will determine whether CHAT-S improves health insurance literacy and financial toxicity at 6-month follow-up (primary outcomes). Further, UUHC and IH have an integrated data infrastructure which allows us to capture electronic health records and claims data to investigate whether CHAT-S improves surveillance care for recurrence at 18-month follow-up (secondary outcome). We will explore moderators (e.g., rurality, ethnicity) of the intervention effects. Finally, to inform future dissemination, we will conduct a budget impact analysis and a short-term and long-term time horizon cost-effectiveness analysis of CHAT-S. This proposal addresses the National Cancer Institute's goal of improving the care of cancer survivors and mitigating financial toxicity. We will demonstrate that a virtual health insurance literacy intervention can improve insurance literacy, financial toxicity, and surveillance care among YA cancer survivors, and provide guidance to improving survivorship care across the United States.

Conditions
Cancer
Being tested
CHAT-S, Usual Care
Medical subject headings
Neoplasms

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • CHAT-SBehavioural

    The CHAT-S intervention will include 4 videoconference sessions over a 2-month time period that is delivered by a patient navigator. Session 1 will include content to educate participants about survivorship care and common types of follow-up care required for their specific cancer, as well as, basic insurance terms and concepts. Session 2 will teach participants about their own insurance plan (e.g., coverage, benefits, breakdown of bills, and explanation of benefits) so they can better navigate both the medical and insurance systems. Session 3 reviews health insurance laws (e.g., ACA, FMLA, No Surprises Act) and how to proceed with an appeals process. Session 4 explains how to manage the costs through budgeting and cost-of-care conversations with their medical providers.

  • Usual CareBehavioural

    Usual care will consist of a resource list that describes organizational and community resources available on insurance, financial burden, and survivorship care. Further, we will track whether participants were referred or engaged in services using the follow-up surveys and via the EHR/claims data.

Study groups in NCT05829070
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
CHAT-SExperimentalCHAT-S consists of 4 bi-weekly 35-45 minute videoconferencing sessions with a patient navigator and a patient booklet on insurance, costs, and survivorship care.
Receives: Behavioral: CHAT-S
Usual CarePlacebo comparatorUsual care will consist of a resource list sent by the navigator.
Receives: Behavioral: Usual Care

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Health Insurance Literacy Measure (HILM)

    The degree to which individuals have the knowledge, ability, and confidence to find and evaluate information about health plans, select the best plan for their own (or their family's) financial and health circumstances, and use the plan. Determined by rating statements using a 4-point scale (very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, not all confident).

    Measured: Baseline

  2. COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity (COST)

    Financial distress related to medical costs. Determined by rating statements regarding financial distress on a 5-point scale (very much, quite a bit, somewhat, a little bit, not at all).

    Measured: Baseline

  3. Health Insurance Literacy Measure

    The degree to which individuals have the knowledge, ability, and confidence to find and evaluate information about health plans, select the best plan for their own (or their family's) financial and health circumstances, and use the plan. Determined by rating statements using a 4-point scale (very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, not all confident).

    Measured: 6 months

  4. COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity (COST)

    Financial distress related to medical costs. Determined by rating statements regarding financial distress on a 5-point scale (very much, quite a bit, somewhat, a little bit, not at all).

    Measured: 6 months

  5. Health Insurance Literacy Measure

    The degree to which individuals have the knowledge, ability, and confidence to find and evaluate information about health plans, select the best plan for their own (or their family's) financial and health circumstances, and use the plan. Determined by rating statements using a 4-point scale (very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, not all confident).

    Measured: 12 months

  6. COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity (COST)

    Financial distress related to medical costs. Determined by rating statements regarding financial distress on a 5-point scale (very much, quite a bit, somewhat, a little bit, not at all).

    Measured: 12 months

Secondary outcomes (14)
  1. Surveillance for Recurrence

    Met (partly or fully) or failed to meet cancer surveillance for recurrence within the past year (looking from 6 months-18 months after baseline)

    Measured: 18 months

  2. Survivorship Care Receipt

    Gathering information regarding receiving other survivorship care (other than surveillance care) including shared, coordinated care (e.g., using current procedural terminology codes to designate having visits in the past year-6-18 months following baseline-with both primary care providers and oncologists).

    Measured: 18 months

  3. Insurance Coverage

    Questions asking about the type of insurance coverage participants have (having participants indicate if their coverage is public/private, policy holder, number of people covered etc).

    Measured: Baseline

  4. Insurance Coverage

    Questions asking about the type of insurance coverage participants have (having participants indicate if their coverage is public/private, policy holder, number of people covered etc).

    Measured: 6 months

  5. Insurance Coverage

    Questions asking about the type of insurance coverage participants have (having participants indicate if their coverage is public/private, policy holder, number of people covered etc).

    Measured: 12 months

  6. Familiarity with the Affordable Care Act and other insurance legislation

    Knowledge of protections (e.g., appeals), avenues for insurance coverage, and legal protections. Indicated using statements regarding familiarity with insurance legislation rated using a 4-point scale (very familiar, somewhat familiar, not too familiar, not at all familiar).

    Measured: Baseline

  7. Familiarity with the Affordable Care Act and other insurance legislation

    Knowledge of protections (e.g., appeals), avenues for insurance coverage, and legal protections. Indicated using statements regarding familiarity with insurance legislation rated using a 4-point scale (very familiar, somewhat familiar, not too familiar, not at all familiar).

    Measured: 6 months

  8. Familiarity with the Affordable Care Act and other insurance legislation

    Knowledge of protections (e.g., appeals), avenues for insurance coverage, and legal protections. Indicated using statements regarding familiarity with insurance legislation rated using a 4-point scale (very familiar, somewhat familiar, not too familiar, not at all familiar).

    Measured: 12 months

  9. Feasibility of enrollment and session completion

    Percentage enrolled calculated from number approached for participation and sessions completed calculated from total number enrolled in the intervention.

    Measured: 6 months

  10. Acceptability:

    5-point scales of satisfaction with CHAT-S. Rating statements regarding the study with a 5-point scale (very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, neutral, somewhat dissatisfied, very dissatisfied).

    assistance that you wanted? How helpful has this program been for you for accessing survivorship care?)

    Measured: 6 months

  11. Patient Satisfaction with Interpersonal Relationship with Navigator

    Experiences with communication and services provided by the navigator. Using statements from the Patient Satisfaction with Navigator Interpersonal Relationship (PSN-I). Using a 5-point scale (strongly agree, agree, neither agree nor disagree, disagree, strongly disagree).

    Measured: 6 months

  12. Cost related literacy

    Confidence in dealing with medical costs indicated by rating statements using a 4-point scale (very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, not at all confident).

    Measured: Baseline

  13. Cost related literacy

    Confidence in dealing with medical costs indicated by rating statements using a 4-point scale (very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, not at all confident).

    Measured: 6 months

  14. Cost related literacy

    Confidence in dealing with medical costs indicated by rating statements using a 4-point scale (very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, not at all confident).

    Measured: 12 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted25 Apr 2023
  2. Study start8 Nov 2023
  3. Primary completionOct 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completionMar 2028 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Health services research
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
300 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05829070
Sponsor's protocol ID
00164028
Other IDs
R01CA276825
Acronym
CHAT-S
Status last verified
Apr 2026
First submitted
2 Mar 2023
Last updated
28 Apr 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Undecided

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing CHAT-S in people with Cancer, run by University of Utah at 2 sites in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Amy Chevrier, BS (8018881803, amy.chevrier@hci.utah.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Health Insurance Literacy Measure (HILM) (time frame: Baseline). The study lists 6 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Apr 2026.

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