BACKGROUND: Complementary and alternative (CAM) cancer treatment is often expensive and not covered by insurance. As a result, many people turn to crowdfunding to access this treatment.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to identify the rationales of patients with cancer seeking CAM treatment abroad by looking specifically at crowdfunding campaigns to support CAM cancer treatment in Tijuana, Mexico.
METHODS: We scraped the GoFundMe.com and GiveSendGo.com crowdfunding platforms for campaigns referencing CAM cancer clinics in Tijuana, initiated between January 1, 2022, and February 28, 2023. The authors created a coding framework to identify rationales for seeking CAM treatment in Tijuana. To supplement campaign metadata, we coded the beneficiary\'s cancer stage, type, age, specific treatment sought, whether the beneficiary died, gender, and race.
RESULTS: Patients sought CAM cancer treatment in Tijuana because the (1) treatment offers the greatest efficacy (29.9%); (2) treatment offered domestically was not curative (23.2%); (3) the clinic treats the whole person, and addresses the spiritual dimension of the person (20.1%); (4) treatments are nontoxic, natural, or less invasive (18.2%); and (5) clinic offers the newest technology (8.5%). Campaigns raised US $5,275,268.37 and most campaign beneficiaries were women (69.7%) or White individuals (71.1%).
CONCLUSIONS: These campaigns spread problematic misinformation about the likely efficacy of CAM treatments, funnel money and endorsements to CAM clinics in Tijuana, and leave many campaigners short of the money needed to pay for CAM treatments while costing beneficiaries and their loved one\'s time, privacy, and dignity. This study affirms that Tijuana, Mexico, is a very popular destination for CAM cancer treatment.

UNASSIGNED: Higher education institutions, including medical schools, increasingly rely on fundraising to bridge funding gaps and support their missions. This paper presents a viewpoint on data-driven strategies in fundraising, outlining a 4-step approach for effective planning while considering ethical implications. It outlines a 4-step approach to creating an effective, end-to-end, data-driven fundraising plan, emphasizing the crucial stages of data collection, data analysis, goal establishment, and targeted strategy formulation. By leveraging internal and external data, schools can create tailored outreach initiatives that resonate with potential donors. However, the fundraising process must be grounded in ethical considerations. Ethical challenges, particularly in fundraising with grateful medical patients, necessitate transparent and honest practices prioritizing donors\' and beneficiaries\' rights and safeguarding public trust. This paper presents a viewpoint on the critical role of data-driven strategies in fundraising for medical education. It emphasizes integrating comprehensive data analysis with ethical considerations to enhance fundraising efforts in medical schools. By integrating data analytics with fundraising best practices and ensuring ethical practice, medical institutions can ensure financial support and foster enduring, trust-based relationships with their donor communities.

UNASSIGNED: Health education games make health-related tasks enjoyable and interactive, thereby encouraging user participation. Entrepreneurs and health educators can leverage online crowdfunding platforms, such as Kickstarter, to transform their innovative ideas into funded projects.
UNASSIGNED: This research focuses on health education game initiatives on Kickstarter. Through an online user survey, it aims to understand user perceptions and evaluate the significance of 8 distinct components that may influence the success of such crowdfunding initiatives.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 75 participants evaluated games using 8 dimensions: game rules, learning objectives, narrative, content organization, motivation, interactivity, skill building, and assessment and feedback. The survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis, exploratory factor analysis, the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test, and multivariate analysis.
UNASSIGNED: Exploratory data analysis showed that, among the 8 dimensions, skill building, content organization, and interactivity were the top-ranking dimensions most closely associated with crowdfunding health education game. The 8 dimensions can be grouped into 3 categories from the exploratory factor analysis: game content-, instruction-, and game design-related components. Further statistical analysis confirmed the correlation between these dimensions with the successful crowdfunding of health education games.
UNASSIGNED: This empirical analysis identified critical factors for game proposal design that can increase the likelihood of securing crowdfunding support.

BACKGROUND: Emerging literature suggests that LGBTQ+ cancer survivors are more likely to experience financial burden than non-LGBTQ+ survivors. However, LGBTQ+ cancer survivors experience with cost-coping behaviors such as crowdfunding is understudied.
METHODS: We aimed to assess LGBTQ+ inequity in cancer crowdfunding by combining community-engaged and technology-based methods. Crowdfunding campaigns were web-scraped from GoFundMe and classified as cancer-related and LGBTQ+ or non-LGBTQ+ using term dictionaries. Bivariate analyses and generalized linear models were used to assess differential effects in total goal amount raised by LGBTQ+ status. Stratified models were run by online reach and LGBTQ+ inclusivity of state policy.
RESULTS: A total of N = 188,342 active cancer-related crowdfunding campaigns were web-scraped from GoFundMe in November 2022, of which N = 535 were LGBTQ+ and ranged from 2014 to 2022. In multivariable models of recent campaigns (2019-2022), LGBTQ+ campaigns raised $1608 (95% CI: -2139, -1077) less than non-LGBTQ+ campaigns. LGBTQ+ campaigns with low (26-45 donors), moderate (46-87 donors), and high (88-240 donors) online reach raised on average $1152 (95% CI: -$1589, -$716), $1050 (95% CI: -$1737, -$364), and $2655 (95% CI: -$4312, -$998) less than non-LGBTQ+ campaigns respectively. When stratified by LGBTQ+ inclusivity of state level policy states with anti-LGBTQ+ policy/lacking equitable policy raised on average $1910 (95% CI: -2640, -1182) less than non-LGBTQ+ campaigns from the same states.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed LGBTQ+ inequity in cancer-related crowdfunding, suggesting that LGBTQ+ cancer survivors may be less able to address financial burden via crowdfunding in comparison to non-LGBTQ+ cancer survivors-potentially widening existing economic inequities.

This study offers a bibliometric and Scientometric examination of the existing body of literature on crowdfunding. The analysis incorporates a total of 1156 articles from the Scopus database. The data is presented using the bibliometric technique, employing R-studio and VOS viewer software. A Scientometric analysis was undertaken to ascertain the discoveries and patterns of research themes, current and future research orientations, impact, co-occurrence, co-citations, as well as trends in impact and collaboration. The literature on crowdfunding has exhibited significant growth from 2010 to 2023. The number of publications pertaining to crowdfunding has experienced substantial growth between the years 2020 and 2023. The highlighted research trends and collaboration trends encompass various aspects of crowdfunding and resource mobilization, including crowdfunding, fundraising, social capital, peer-to-peer lending, venture capital, and crowdfunding success. Additionally, this study offers an expanded scope for the study based on a comprehensive examination of existing literature. The outcomes of our study have the potential to offer valuable insights for forthcoming scholars, corporations, and regulatory bodies seeking to comprehend the present patterns and anticipated advancements in the field of crowdfunding research.

In recent years, there has been growing concern about prejudice in crowdfunding; however, empirical research remains limited, particularly in the context of medical crowdfunding. This study addresses the pressing issue of racial disparities in medical crowdfunding, with a specific focus on cancer crowdfunding on the GoFundMe platform.
This study aims to investigate racial disparities in cancer crowdfunding using average donation amount, number of donations, and success of the fundraising campaign as outcomes.
Drawing from a substantial data set of 104,809 campaigns in the United States, we used DeepFace facial recognition technology to determine racial identities and used regression models to examine racial factors in crowdfunding performance. We also examined the moderating effect of the proportion of White residents on crowdfunding bias and used 2-tailed t tests to measure the influence of racial anonymity on crowdfunding success. Owing to the large sample size, we set the cutoff for significance at P<.001.
In the regression and supplementary analyses, the racial identity of the fundraiser significantly predicted average donations (P<.001), indicating that implicit bias may play a role in donor behavior. Gender (P=.04) and campaign description length (P=.62) did not significantly predict the average donation amounts. The race of the fundraiser was not significantly associated with the number of donations (P=.42). The success rate of cancer crowdfunding campaigns, although generally low (11.77%), showed a significant association with the race of the fundraiser (P<.001). After controlling for the covariates of the fundraiser gender, fundraiser age, local White proportion, length of campaign description, and fundraising goal, the average donation amount to White individuals was 17.68% higher than for Black individuals. Moreover, campaigns that did not disclose racial information demonstrated a marginally higher average donation amount (3.92%) than those identified as persons of color. Furthermore, the racial composition of the fundraiser\'s county of residence was found to exert influence (P<.001); counties with a higher proportion of White residents exhibited reduced racial disparities in crowdfunding outcomes.
This study contributes to a deeper understanding of racial disparities in cancer crowdfunding. It highlights the impact of racial identity, geographic context, and the potential for implicit bias in donor behavior. As web-based platforms evolve, addressing racial inequality and promoting fairness in health care financing remain critical goals. Insights from this research suggest strategies such as maintaining racial anonymity and ensuring that campaigns provide strong evidence of deservingness. Moreover, broader societal changes are necessary to eliminate the financial distress that drives individuals to seek crowdfunding support.

Persons diagnosed with serious chronic illnesses and their caretakers experience multiple types of financial costs that strain their income and generate financial distress. Many turn to medical crowdfunding (MCF) to mitigate the harms of these costs on their health and quality of life.
This scoping review aims to summarize the research on MCF for persons diagnosed with serious chronic illness regarding study designs and methods; the responsible conduct of research practices; and study foci as they relate to stress, stress appraisals, and the coping processes.
This review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) and PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. Eligible studies were conducted in countries designated as high income by the World Bank and focused on beneficiaries diagnosed with serious chronic illness. The findings of the included studies were summarized as they related to the key concepts in a conceptual framework derived from an established stress, appraisal, and coping framework and a conceptual model of financial toxicity in pediatric oncology.
Overall, 26 studies were eligible for inclusion in the review. The main findings included a lack of integration of qualitative and quantitative approaches and the inconsistent reporting of the responsible conduct of research practices. The included studies focused on financial stressors that contributed to financial burden, such as out-of-pocket payments of medical bills, basic living expenses, medical travel expenses, and lost income owing to illness-related work disruptions. Few studies addressed stress appraisals as threatening or the adequacy of available financial resources. When mentioned, appraisals related to the global financial struggle during the COVID-19 pandemic or the capacity of social network members to donate funds. The consequences of MCF included the receipt of 3 forms of social support (tangible, informational, and emotional), privacy loss, embarrassment, and the propagation of scientifically unsupported information. Studies found that friends and family tended to manage MCF campaigns. Although most of the studies (21/26, 81%) focused on monetary outcomes, a few (5/26, 19%) concentrated on peoples\' experiences with MCF.
The identified methodological gaps highlight the need for more robust and reproducible approaches to using the copious data available on public MCF platforms. The integration of quantitative and qualitative methods will allow for nuanced explorations of the MCF experience. A more consistent elaboration of strategies to promote the responsible conduct of research is warranted to minimize risk to populations that are vulnerable and express concerns regarding the loss of privacy. Finally, an examination of the unanticipated consequences of MCF is critical for the development of future interventions to optimize existing supports while providing needed supports, financial and nonfinancial, that are lacking.

BACKGROUND: Cancer survivors frequently experience cancer-related financial burdens. The extent to which Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus (LGBTQ+) populations experience cancer-related cost-coping behaviors such as crowdfunding is largely unknown, owing to a lack of sexual orientation and gender identity data collection and social stigma. Web-scraping has previously been used to evaluate inequities in online crowdfunding, but these methods alone do not adequately engage populations facing inequities.
OBJECTIVE: We describe the methodological process of integrating technology-based and community-engaged methods to explore the financial burden of cancer among LGBTQ+ individuals via online crowdfunding.
METHODS: To center the LGBTQ+ community, we followed community engagement guidelines by forming a study advisory board (SAB) of LGBTQ+ cancer survivors, caregivers, and professionals who were involved in every step of the research. SAB member engagement was tracked through quarterly SAB meeting attendance and an engagement survey. We then used web-scraping methods to extract a data set of online crowdfunding campaigns. The study team followed an integrated technology-based and community-engaged process to develop and refine term dictionaries for analyses. Term dictionaries were developed and refined in order to identify crowdfunding campaigns that were cancer- and LGBTQ+-related.
RESULTS: Advisory board engagement was high according to metrics of meeting attendance, meeting participation, and anonymous board feedback. In collaboration with the SAB, the term dictionaries were iteratively edited and refined. The LGBTQ+ term dictionary was developed by the study team, while the cancer term dictionary was refined from an existing dictionary. The advisory board and analytic team members manually coded against the term dictionary and performed quality checks until high confidence in correct classification was achieved using pairwise agreement. Through each phase of manual coding and quality checks, the advisory board identified more misclassified campaigns than the analytic team alone. When refining the LGBTQ+ term dictionary, the analytic team identified 11.8% misclassification while the SAB identified 20.7% misclassification. Once each term dictionary was finalized, the LGBTQ+ term dictionary resulted in a 95% pairwise agreement, while the cancer term dictionary resulted in an 89.2% pairwise agreement.
CONCLUSIONS: The classification tools developed by integrating community-engaged and technology-based methods were more accurate because of the equity-based approach of centering LGBTQ+ voices and their lived experiences. This exemplar suggests integrating community-engaged and technology-based methods to study inequities is highly feasible and has applications beyond LGBTQ+ financial burden research.

BACKGROUND: Due to rising health care costs, patients have sought alternative ways of addressing medical expenses. In particular, transplant patients have complex and expensive medical needs-including skin cancer surveillance-that may not be fully covered by insurance. One such method of financing medical costs is by crowdsourcing through web-based platforms, most notably GoFundMe.
OBJECTIVE: Previous work identified factors associated with GoFundMe campaigns\' fundraising success for dermatologic diseases. We sought to characterize these factors in transplant recipients\' campaigns for funds raised for covering skin cancer-related costs. These factors include demographics, campaign traits, and subjective themes.
METHODS: From January to April 2022, we analyzed GoFundMe campaigns using the following search terms chosen on the basis of author consensus: \"transplant skin cancer,\" \"transplant basal cell,\" \"transplant squamous,\" \"transplant melanoma,\" and \"dermatologist transplant.\" Demographic data were coded from campaign text or subjectively coded based on author consensus. Campaigns were read completely by 2 independent coders and associated with up to 3 different themes. Linear regression was performed to examine the qualities associated with success, which was defined as funds raised when controlling for campaign goals. Logistic regression was used to examine qualities associated with extremely successful campaigns, defined as those raising funds over 1.5 times the IQR.
RESULTS: Across 82 campaigns, we identified several factors that were associated with fundraiser success. Patients who experienced complications during infectious disease treatment, those who received a pancreas transplant, or those who died from their disease raised significantly more money. Patients older than 61 years raised significantly less money. Extremely successful campaigns (>US $20,177) were associated with campaigners who emphasized a disability from their disease, those who were reluctant to ask for help, or those who died due to their disease.
CONCLUSIONS: Demographic and thematic factors are associated with transplant patients\' skin cancer-related fundraising success, favoring those who are younger, in more extreme situations, and appear reluctant to ask for help; these findings are consistent with those of previous studies. Additionally, transplant patients have complex and expensive dermatologic needs that may not be fully covered by insurance, as reflected in their GoFundMe campaigns. The most commonly mentioned reasons for fundraising included living expenses or loss of income, inadequate or no insurance, and end-of-life costs. Our findings may inform transplant patients how to maximize the success of their campaigns and highlight gaps in health care coverage for skin cancer-related costs. Limitations include the possibility for misclassification due to the data abstraction process and limiting data collection to fundraisers available on GoFundMe while excluding those on other websites. Further research should investigate the ethical implications of crowdfunding, financial needs of this patient population, and potential ways to improve access to routine skin cancer surveillance among patients receiving transplants.

BACKGROUND: Crowdfunding for medical costs is becoming increasingly popular. Few previous studies have described the fundraising characteristics and qualities associated with success.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to characterize and investigate the qualities associated with successful dermatological fundraisers.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study of dermatological GoFundMe campaigns collected data, including demographic variables, thematic variables using an inductive qualitative method, and quantitative information. Linear regression examined the qualities associated with success, which are defined based on funds raised when controlling for campaign goals. Logistic regression was used to examine qualities associated with extremely successful campaigns, defined as those raising >1.5 times the IQR. Statistical significance was set at P<.05.
RESULTS: A total of 2008 publicly available campaigns at the time of data collection were evaluated. Nonmodifiable factors associated with greater success included male gender, age 20-40 years, and White race. Modifiable factors associated with success included more updates posted to the campaign page, non-self-identity of the campaign creator, mention of a chronic condition, and smiling in campaign profile photographs.
CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the modifiable factors of medical crowdfunding may inform future campaigns, and nonmodifiable factors may have policy implications for improving health care equity and financing. Crowdfunding for medical disease treatment may have potential implications for medical privacy and exacerbation of existing health care disparities. This study was limited to publicly available GoFundMe campaigns. Potential limitations for this study include intercoder variability, misclassification bias because of the data abstraction process, and prioritization of campaigns based on the proprietary GoFundMe algorithm.