JOURNAL OF JAPAN HEALTH MEDICINE ASSOCIATION
Online ISSN : 2423-9828
Print ISSN : 1343-0025
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Cancer Patients’ Financial Problems, Information Required by Them to Develop Domestic Financial Plans, and Support
—An Interview with Participants of Cancer Patient Salons—
Sayo HaradaMasae YamamotoDaisuke Nishida
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JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2019 Volume 28 Issue 2 Pages 147-156

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Abstract

There has been an increase in the number of people surviving while receiving cancer treatment. Although several studies suggest that many cancer patients have financial problems since medical costs of cancer treatment are expensive, no studies have been conducted on the details of these problems or support required by cancer patients. The present study aimed to examine cancer patients’ financial problems related to their lives while receiving cancer treatment and assistance required to help with family finances. A group interview with the theme of “Knowledge of expenses for cancer treatment, living expenses, and the social security system and its utilization as necessary livelihood support required to help cancer patients continue to live at ease while receiving treatment” was conducted involving 21 patients who attended two salons for cancer patients in Shiga Prefecture, and the results were analyzed qualitatively and descriptively. The mean age of the subjects, including five males and 16 females, was 65 years old. The interview results were documented verbatim, from which 229 codes were extracted, and these codes were classified into 46 sub-categories, 19 categories, and five core categories (expressed using [ ]). Since the patients had [little knowledge of systems for the promotion of subsidies including medical expenditure], they [felt burdened with the payment of medical expenses when they incurred large bills, and health care professionals also had little knowledge of the sharing of medical expenses]. Furthermore, [the patients had difficulty working/raising children while continuing to receive treatment and felt anxious about being unable to develop future plans]. The patients hoped that [health care professionals would inform them of subsidy systems] and that [consultation/support centers would provide lifestyle consultation for individual patients (recognition of consultation and requests)], so that they could develop lifestyle plans. In order to help cancer patients develop domestic financial plans, it is necessary to : provide consistent information on health/welfare care systems for cancer patients, develop check lists for patients to examine and manage their own knowledge of those systems, and provide individual patients with personal consultation support.

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© 2019 JAPAN HEALTH MEDICINE ASSOCIATION
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