FINANCIAL TOXICITY OF CANCER TREATMENT AND ITS IMPACT ON QUALITY OF LIFE IN TERTIARY CARE PUBLIC SECTOR HOSPITAL
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Abstract
Objective: To study the financial burden of treatment and its consequences in patients suffering from cancer.
Material and Methods: An observational, cross sectional survey was performed, based on convenience sampling,
to assess patient reported financial toxicity (FT) related to cancer treatment. FT related items were measured using
5-point Likert scale on 11-item questionnaire. Total score ranged from 0-44. Lower score indicated higher FT. Arbitrary
cut-off points were selected to differentiate between stress levels due to FT: 0-10 catastrophic stress; 11-20 moderate
stress; 21-30 mild stress; 31 and above no stress.
Results: This study was conducted on 102 patients, 75% were males and mean age of all patients was 40.5 years.
Mean monthly income was Rs.15718. Nineteen (18.6%) patients were unemployed; 19 (18.6 %) were housewives while
09 (9%) were manual laborers. All patients (100 %) were not having enough savings to cover full treatment expenses.
Seventy one percent patients were worried about financial problems while 84 % patients could not meet their monthly
expenses due to treatment costs. Eighty five percent patients were worried about losing job. Only 10% reported to be
in full control of their financial situation. Overall, catastrophic stress was reported by 53 (52 %); moderate stress by 35
(34%) ; mild stress by 10 (10 %) while no stress was reported by only 4% patients .
Conclusions: Majority of patients undergoing cancer treatment at this public sector teaching hospital were poor and
under severe stress that badly affected their quality of life
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