Time Toxicity: Time that Patients Can Lose to Treatment (HLOL #234)

Health Literacy Out Loud Podcast

Christopher Booth MD, FRCPC, is a Medical Oncologist and Health Services Researcher at Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada. In his clinical practice, Dr. Booth provides care to patients with gastrointestinal cancers. His research explores issues of access, quality, and value of cancer care in Canada, India, and other nations. Dr. Booth is a well-published author and educator. He has received many accolades including the “2022 Exceptional Healer Award” from Kingston Health Sciences Centre for his work that embodies compassion, respect, and clinical excellence.

Dr. Christopher Booth talks with Helen Osborne about:

• “Time toxicity.” This refers to the amount of time that patients invest in their medical care. It often includes time spent traveling, waiting, having procedures, managing side effects, and interacting with the health care system.
• The importance of discussing the trade-offs of treatment benefits with patients’ use of time, especially when people are near the end of life.
• Suggestions about how to discuss this complex topic with patients and families in ways that are compassionate, clear, and understandable.

More ways to learn:

• “The Most Valuable Resource in Medicine,” FreakonomicsMD podcast, Episode #59. An interview with Dr. Christopher Booth by podcast host, Dr. Bapu Jena.
• “What really matters at the end: perspectives from a patient, a family member, and an oncologist,” by Koven R, Nelson P, Booth CP. Published in CMAJ
• “The Time Toxicity of Cancer Treatment,” by Gupta A, Eisenhauer EA, Booth CM. Published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology
• “Has the Current Oncology Value Paradigm Forgotten Patients’ Time? Too Little of a Good Thing,” by Fundytus A, Prasad V, Booth CM. Published in JAMA Oncology
• “Dr. Chris Booth: The Emperor Has No Clothes 5 à 7 Research Talks” video of a TED-style presentation from Queen’s Health Sciences.

Health Literacy from A to Z: Practical Ways to Communicate Your Health Message, Third Edition, by Helen Osborne. Especially relevant to this podcast is the chapter, “Decisions About Treatment, End-of-Life Choices, or Whether to Participate in Clinical Trials.”

Read a transcript of this podcast.

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