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KMID : 0384320050260010031
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Korean Journal of Family Medicine
2005 Volume.26 No. 1 p.31 ~ p.39
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The Socioeconomic Impact of Terminal Cancer on Patients´ Families and Its Associated Factors
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Yun Young-Ho
Rhee Young-Sun
Nam So-Young
Park Sang-Min
Lee Jung-Suk
Park Myung-Hee
Choe Wha-Sook
Lee Chang-Geol
Won Joo-Hee
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Abstract
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Background: We conducted this study to investigate the financial burden of terminal cancer patient´s family and to identify factors influencing their economic burden.
Methods: We approached 187 family members supporting their famly member with terminal cancer who was enrolled in four hospice and palliative care program. We constructed a questionnaire examining the impact of illness on their family. With multiple logistic analysis, we examined the patients´ and family members´ demographic and the patients´ clinical factors associated with the burden caused by terminal cancer.
Results: The majority of families reported the loss of savings (54%), the need to make major life changes in order to care for the patient (50%), the loss of incomes (34%), the inability to function normally because of the stress of the illness (27%). Many families had to move to a less expensive home (18%), delay medical care for other family members (12%), or change educational plans for other family members (13%). Families that cared for patients who wanted to be cared for at institution (odds ratio: 2.72, 95% confidential interval: 1.19∼6.19), patients with liver cancer (3.61, 1.53∼8.57), and families who were poor caregivers (2.97, 1.24∼7.10), or primary caregiver was a spouse (3.57, 1.47∼8.68) were more likely to lose savings. Families that were in ´new couple´ in family life cycle stages (3.91, 1.04∼14.63), ´birth of the first child´ (8.34, 2.74∼25.32), and ´the adolescent family or the launching family´ (10.56, 4.07∼27.33), were more likely to lose savings than ´the empty family or the aging family´.
Conclusion: Many families reported severe caregiving and economic burdens. Social and financial support need to be given to families with predictors of high economic burdens. (J Korean Acad Fam Med 2005;26: 31-39)
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KEYWORD
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termanal cancer, caregiver, socioeconomic impact
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