Introduction:

Web-based crowdfunding has become a prominent way to raise money for medical expenses. This study was conducted to analyze how prostate cancer patients utilize crowdfunding and whether the success of campaigns based on percent of goal amount raised can be predicted by key themes and/or demographic data.  

Methods:

GoFundMe.com was systematically searched using the keyword “prostate cancer” to create a data set of the first 100 campaigns. Campaigns were stratified by the use of the themes “lost wages,” “family,” and “transportation,” in their funding requests. R (2019) was used to model descriptive statistics, correlations, and multivariable linear regressions. 

Results:

62 campaigns met inclusion criteria, of which 4 met their fundraising goals. Descriptive data of the campaigns is recorded in Table I. Multivariable regression demonstrated that the number of donations was significantly predicted by the number of social media shares (Odds ratio [OR] 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02, 1.11) when controlling for days online and goal amount. The number of social media shares was significantly predicted by number of days online (OR 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.10) and mention of transportation (OR 1.24, CI: 1.1, 1.4) when controlling for goal amount. 50% of campaigns mentioned lost wages, 25% mentioned family, and 27% mentioned transportation. Percentage of goal raised was not significantly predicted by any of the measured factors. There was no significant difference in any of the descriptive campaign data between the “travel”, “wages” and “family” key word categories.  

Conclusion:

Patients with prostate cancer may turn to crowdfunding for urgent, expensive treatments. Successful campaigns more frequently mentioned transportation, perhaps because donors feel more inclined to donate directly to care components (as opposed to mitigating the effects of lost wages). Even so, 25% of campaigns described the need for transportation support and none met their goals, signifying that distance to treatment remains a physical and financial barrier. Despite the presence of different themes mentioned in funding requests, there was no significant difference in goal amounts or amount raised based on the mention of transportation versus family versus lost wages. Patients with large social media reach tended to raise more money overall, which disadvantages those with less technological literacy or a smaller social network. Crowdfunding appears to benefit those with the time and freedom to create a broad social network, but overall is not a viable way to fund prostate cancer treatment. 

Funding: N/A