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Beyond Medical Bills: High Prevalence of Financial Toxicity and Diverse Management Strategies Among Vietnamese Patients With Cancer

  • Binh Thang Tran (Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University) ;
  • Thanh Gia Nguyen (Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University) ;
  • Dinh Duong Le (Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University) ;
  • Minh Tu Nguyen (Undergraduate Training Office, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University) ;
  • Nhan P. T. Nguyen (Da Nang Oncology Hospital) ;
  • Minh Hanh Nguyen (Oncology Centre, Hue Central Hospital) ;
  • The Due Ong (Health Strategy & Policy Institute, Ministry of Health)
  • 투고 : 2024.02.21
  • 심사 : 2024.06.12
  • 발행 : 2024.07.31

초록

Objectives: This study was conducted to measure financial toxicity (FT) among patients with cancer in Vietnam using the COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity (COST) and to describe the cost management strategies employed by these patients. Methods: This comprehensive cross-sectional study enrolled 634 patients from 2 specialized oncology hospitals in Vietnam. Using COST cut-off scores, FT was classified as none/mild (≥26), moderate (14-25), or severe (≤13). Cost management strategies, or coping mechanisms, were classified into 4 groups: lifestyle changes, financial resource strategies, treatment modifications, and support seeking. Results: The prevalence of FT was 91.8%, with 51.7% of participants demonstrating severe and 40.1% exhibiting moderate FT. Severe FT was significantly associated with female, low education level, unstable employment, low household economic status, and advanced cancer stage. The most common coping strategies were as follows: among lifestyle changes, reducing spending on basic items and leisure activities (78.7%) and cutting back on essential household expenses (66.4%); among financial resource strategies, borrowing money from relatives or friends (49.1%) and withdrawing funds from retirement or savings accounts (34.1%); within treatment modifications, switching treatment facilities or doctors due to cost concerns (9.3%); and within support seeking, obtaining help from welfare or community organizations (18.8%). All strategies were significantly more likely to be used by patients with severe FT. Conclusions: FT was highly prevalent among patients with cancer. Most patients relied on lifestyle adjustments and coping strategies, underscoring the need for improved financial support systems to alleviate the economic burden associated with cancer care.

키워드

과제정보

The authors would like to thank Prof. Hoang Lan Nguyen, Dr. Thanh Xuan Nguyen, Dr. The Thanh Nguyen, Dr. Quynh Anh Nguyen Dac, two hospital board of directors, doctors, nurses, volunteers and participants for their support and contributions to this study. The funder played no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or manuscript preparation.

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