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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC 4.0Cancer Medicine

Administrative Workload and Associated Distress in Individuals Undergoing Cancer Therapy

  • Sarah J. Boyle1
  • Helen M. Parsons2,3
  • Michael Anne Kyle4
  • Patricia Jewett5
  • Guang Yang6
  • Zuofu Huang7,8
  • Arjun Gupta9
  • Deanna Teoh1,3
  • Yingling Fan6,10
  • Anne Blaes3,9
  • Rebecca Arend11
  • Gabrielle B. Rocque12
2 more authors
  • Julian Wolfson7
  • Rachel I. Vogel1,3
12 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health University of Minnesota Minneapolis Minnesota USA
  2. 2Division of Health Policy and Management University of Minnesota Minneapolis Minnesota USA
  3. 3Masonic Cancer Center University of Minnesota Minneapolis Minnesota USA
  4. 4Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
  5. 5Division of Environmental Health Sciences University of Minnesota Minneapolis Minnesota USA
  6. 6Daynamica Inc. Chanhassen Minnesota USA
  7. 7Division of Biostatistics and Health Data Science University of Minnesota Minneapolis Minnesota USA
  8. 8Department of Statistics Grinnell College Grinnell Iowa USA
  9. 9Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation University of Minnesota Minneapolis Minnesota USA
  10. 10Humphrey School of Public Affairs University of Minnesota Minneapolis Minnesota USA
  11. 11Division of Gynecologic Oncology O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham Alabama USA
  12. 12Divisions of Hematology & Oncology and Gerontology, Geriatrics, & Palliative Care O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham Alabama USA
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Abstract

Introduction: Cancer care is burdensome, but patient experience with time and administrative burdens is variable. Our objective was to assess the association between daily administrative tasks, time spent, and reported burden and identify demographic and clinical predictors.

Methods: Participants (n = 122) from two longitudinal studies of individuals receiving cancer treatment utilized a mobile application (Daynamica) to track time spent on cancer care tasks over 28 days. Participants reported distress levels (NCCN Distress Thermometer) and time spent on three administrative tasks daily: scheduling appointments, managing medical bills/claims, and arranging support/transportation. Relationships between distress and tasks were assessed using generalized linear mixed models.

Results: Most participants (91.8%) performed at least one administrative task during the study. Participants were more likely to report clinically significant distress (score 4+) on days involving administrative tasks (scheduling [OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.40–2.64], managing bills [OR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.34–3.29], or arranging support [OR = 3.56, 95% CI: 2.19–5.79]) compared to days without these tasks. While the median time spent was low (14 min per week; Q1–Q3: 3–39), the top quartile spent an average of 83 min per week on these tasks. Lack of reliable transportation was the only factor significantly associated with increased time spent on administrative tasks (median 57 vs. 10 min/week, p = 0.01); no other demographic or clinical factors were associated with higher workload.

Conclusion: Administrative burden is a distinct psychological stressor for individuals with cancer, regardless of the actual time required for administrative tasks. Interventions should focus on streamlining insurance, care coordination, and administrative processes to reduce patient distress.

Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05708703, NCT06322992

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{boyle2026administrative,
  title = {{Administrative Workload and Associated Distress in Individuals Undergoing Cancer Therapy}},
  author = {Sarah J. Boyle and Helen M. Parsons and Michael Anne Kyle and Patricia Jewett and Guang Yang and Zuofu Huang and Arjun Gupta and Deanna Teoh and Yingling Fan and Anne Blaes and Rebecca Arend and Gabrielle B. Rocque and Julian Wolfson and Rachel I. Vogel},
  journal = {Cancer Medicine},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1002/cam4.72416},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.72416},
  note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Administrative Workload and Associated Distress in Individuals Undergoing Cancer Therapy
AU  - Sarah J. Boyle
AU  - Helen M. Parsons
AU  - Michael Anne Kyle
AU  - Patricia Jewett
AU  - Guang Yang
AU  - Zuofu Huang
AU  - Arjun Gupta
AU  - Deanna Teoh
AU  - Yingling Fan
AU  - Anne Blaes
AU  - Rebecca Arend
AU  - Gabrielle B. Rocque
AU  - Julian Wolfson
AU  - Rachel I. Vogel
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/25
JO  - Cancer Medicine
DO  - 10.1002/cam4.72416
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.72416
AB  - Introduction: Cancer care is burdensome, but patient experience with time and administrative burdens is variable. Our objective was to assess the association between daily administrative tasks, time spent, and reported burden and identify demographic and clinical predictors.  Methods: Participants (n = 122) from two longitudinal studies of individuals receiving cancer treatment utilized a mobile application (Daynamica) to track time spent on cancer care tasks over 28 days. Participants reported distress levels (NCCN Distress Thermometer) and time spent on three administrative tasks daily: scheduling appointments, managing medical bills/claims, and arranging support/transportation. Relationships between distress and tasks were assessed using generalized linear mixed models.  Results: Most participants (91.8%) performed at least one administrative task during the study. Participants were more likely to report clinically significant distress (score 4+) on days involving administrative tasks (scheduling [OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.40–2.64], managing bills [OR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.34–3.29], or arranging support [OR = 3.56, 95% CI: 2.19–5.79]) compared to days without these tasks. While the median time spent was low (14 min per week; Q1–Q3: 3–39), the top quartile spent an average of 83 min per week on these tasks. Lack of reliable transportation was the only factor significantly associated with increased time spent on administrative tasks (median 57 vs. 10 min/week, p = 0.01); no other demographic or clinical factors were associated with higher workload.  Conclusion: Administrative burden is a distinct psychological stressor for individuals with cancer, regardless of the actual time required for administrative tasks. Interventions should focus on streamlining insurance, care coordination, and administrative processes to reduce patient distress.  Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05708703, NCT06322992
SN  - 2045-7634
ER  -