Your Donations in Action: Gelareh Sadigh, MD

Identifying patients at risk for financial toxicity can help target interventions to assist families with developing strategies to cope with the financial strains of multiple sclerosis (MS) and improve the overall quality of their lives.

In her 2018 RSNA Research Seed Grant, “Patient-reported Financial Toxicity in Multiple Sclerosis: Predictors and Association with Neuroimaging and Medication Non-adherence,” Gelareh Sadigh, MD, assistant professor, Emory University School of Medicine, surveyed 243 adult patients with known diagnoses of MS. Dr. Sadigh and her team found 75.6% of patients reporting some degree of health-related financial hardship. At least 67% of patients reported using at least one financial coping behavior, 32.9% reported at least some MS prescription medication non-adherence due to treatment costs and 13% reported that they did not get their recommended imaging follow-up due to financial concerns. Higher financial self-efficacy was associated with less financial hardship. Financial hardship was also correlated with worse health-related quality of life.

“Our findings, we believe, have implications on how efforts to improve financial toxicity and outcomes should be complemented by resources to enhance patients’ self-belief in their own capacity to manage personal finances, and develop strategies to cope with the financial strains of multiple sclerosis. These resource may include financial education, price transparency and financial navigation,” Dr. Sadigh said. “Our data will guide clinicians to modify clinical practices to enhance shared decision-making and improve discussions of costs with patients when planning treatment strategies.”

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Dr. Sadigh discusses her 2018 RSNA Research Seed Grant, “Patient-reported Financial Toxicity in Multiple Sclerosis: Predictors and Association with Neuroimaging and Medication Non-adherence."