ASSESSING ONLINE CROWDFUNDING FOR UROLOGIC CANCER CARE USING AUTOMATED DATA EXTRACTION

You have accessJournal of UrologyGlobal Health/Humanitarian (MP67)1 Sep 2021MP67-24 ASSESSING ONLINE CROWDFUNDING FOR UROLOGIC CANCER CARE USING AUTOMATED DATA EXTRACTION Pawel Rajwa, Philip Hopen, Jakub Wojnarowicz, Julia Kaletka, Iga Paszkiewicz, Olga Lach-Wojnarowicz, Andrzej Paradysz, Benjamin Pradere, Shahrokh Shariat, and Michael Leapman Pawel RajwaPawel Rajwa More articles by this author , Philip HopenPhilip Hopen More articles by this author , Jakub WojnarowiczJakub Wojnarowicz More articles by this author , Julia KaletkaJulia Kaletka More articles by this author , Iga PaszkiewiczIga Paszkiewicz More articles by this author , Olga Lach-WojnarowiczOlga Lach-Wojnarowicz More articles by this author , Andrzej ParadyszAndrzej Paradysz More articles by this author , Benjamin PradereBenjamin Pradere More articles by this author , Shahrokh ShariatShahrokh Shariat More articles by this author , and Michael LeapmanMichael Leapman More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000002028.24AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Medical crowdfunding through online platforms has rapidly expanded as a means to defray the financial toxicity associated with cancer care. We aimed to understand the financial needs and online crowdfunding associated with urologic cancers care using a novel method for comprehensively assessing active campaigns. METHODS: The data used in this study came from GoFundMe.com, the largest online crowdfunding platform. We performed web data extraction involving a two-tiered approach: first, an automated web browser (Selenium) was used to find campaigns containing specific search terms related to urologic cancers and extracted the hyperlink address. Then, extraction and exportation were performed using a web-based tool (scrapy.org). We finally aimed to characterized the total amounts requested, direct needs reported, donations received and factors associated with differential fundraising success. RESULTS: We identified 2,126 gofundme.com campaigns relating to prostate (n=376), bladder (n=568), kidney (n=579) and testicular (n=607) cancers. Overall, these campaigns requested $46,369,821 (median per campaign $10000.0 [IQR 5000.0-25000.0]). The main request in these campaigns were related to direct treatment costs (34.36%) or living expenses (17.50%), or both (48.17%). Campaigns were supported by a median of 57 (IQR 30.8-111.3) donors and were shared on media 421 times (IQR 208.0-780.8). Campaign fundraising differed by cancer type: testicular cancer $6005.0 (IQR 3285.0-11090.5); kidney cancer $5810.0 (IQR 2627.5-13272.5); prostate cancer $5233.0 (IQR 2171.25-12255.0) and bladder cancer $4062.5 (IQR 2283.75-8570.25), (p<0.01). Campaings for alternative treatments had higher fundraising totals $8527.0 [IQR 4762.5-16206.5]) compared with those describing conventional therapies $5362.5 [IQR 2707.5-11334.0], (p<0.01). Campaings in the highest versus lowest fundraising quartile, had significantly higher number of shares (786.0 (IQR 481.0-1400.0) vs. 187.0 (IQR 92.0-361.0), p<0.01), and provided information about employment (47.6% vs. 42.6%) and family (80.6% vs. 73.6%), (both p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Using a novel web-based methodology analysis, we assessed, identified and characterized patients reported financial needs for urologic cancer care. These findings indicate a diverse range of needs related to both direct and indirect treatment costs. Similar methods may also be applied to organize social media data to better understand public health priforities. Source of Funding: none © 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 206Issue Supplement 3September 2021Page: e519-e519 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Pawel Rajwa More articles by this author Philip Hopen More articles by this author Jakub Wojnarowicz More articles by this author Julia Kaletka More articles by this author Iga Paszkiewicz More articles by this author Olga Lach-Wojnarowicz More articles by this author Andrzej Paradysz More articles by this author Benjamin Pradere More articles by this author Shahrokh Shariat More articles by this author Michael Leapman More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...