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Kwon Y, Roberts ET, Degenholtz HB, Jacobs BL, Sabik LM. Association of Medicare eligibility with access to and affordability of care among older cancer survivors. J Cancer Surviv 2024:10.1007/s11764-024-01562-x. [PMID: 38520599 DOI: 10.1007/s11764-024-01562-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Older cancer survivors have substantial needs for ongoing care, but they may encounter difficulties accessing care due to cost concerns. We examined whether near-universal insurance coverage through Medicare-a key source of health insurance coverage in this population-is associated with improvements in care access and affordability among older cancer survivors around age 65. METHODS In a nationally representative sample of cancer survivors (aged 50-80) from 2006-2018 National Health Interview Survey, we employed a quasi-experimental, regression discontinuity design to estimate changes in insurance coverage, delayed/skipped care due to cost, and worries about or problems paying medical bills at age 65. RESULTS Medicare coverage sharply increased from 8.3% at age 64 to 98.2% at age 65, ensuring near-universal insurance coverage (99.5%). Medicare eligibility at age 65 was associated with reductions in delayed/skipped care due to cost (discontinuity, - 5.7 percentage points or pp; 95% CI, - 8.1, - 3.3; P < .001), worries about paying for medical bills (- 7.7 pp; 95% CI, - 12.0, - 3.2; P = .001), and problems paying medical bills (- 3.2 pp; 95% CI, - 6.1, - 0.2; P = .036). However, a sizable proportion reported any access or affordability problems (29.7%) between ages 66 and 80. CONCLUSIONS Near-universal Medicare coverage at age 65 was associated with a reduction-but not elimination-of access and affordability problems among cancer survivors. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS These findings reaffirm the role of Medicare in improving access and affordability for older cancer survivor and highlight opportunities for reforms to further alleviate financial burden of care in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngmin Kwon
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Pittsburgh, School of Public Health, A610 Public Health, 130 De Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA.
| | - Eric T Roberts
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 423 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Howard B Degenholtz
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Pittsburgh, School of Public Health, A610 Public Health, 130 De Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Bruce L Jacobs
- Department of Urology, Division of Health Services Research, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, 3471 Fifth Ave, Suite 801, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Lindsay M Sabik
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Pittsburgh, School of Public Health, A610 Public Health, 130 De Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
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Bentley C, Teckle P, McQuarrie L, Peacock S, El Adam S. Impact of cancer on income, wealth and economic outcomes of adult cancer survivors: a scoping review. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e064714. [PMID: 36691144 PMCID: PMC9445784 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To summarise peer-reviewed evidence on the effect of a cancer diagnosis on the different sources of income of individuals diagnosed with cancer during adulthood (age ≥18 years). DESIGN A scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute's methodological framework for conducting scoping reviews and reporting results following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. DATA SOURCES Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, Econ-Lit and Evidence-based Medicine Reviews, and reference lists of evidence syntheses. Published literature of any study type in English was searched from January 2000 to December 2020. ELIGIBILITY AND CRITERIA Study participants were individuals diagnosed with cancer during adulthood (age ≥18 years). Studies from any country and/or healthcare system were included. Primary outcomes were employment income (eg, individual or household); investment income (eg, stocks/bonds, properties, savings); government transfer payments (eg, disability income/pension); debt and bankruptcy. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Findings are summarised descriptively and in tabular form. RESULTS From 6297 citations retrieved, 63 studies (67 articles) met our inclusion criteria. Most (51%) were published in 2016-2020; 65% were published in the USA or Scandinavia. Survivors incurred debt (24 studies), depleted savings (13 studies) and liquidated stocks/bonds (7 studies) in response to a cancer diagnosis. 41 studies reported changes to employment income; of these, 12 case-control studies reported varying results: 5 reported survivors earned less than controls, 4 reported no significant differences, 2 reported mixed results and 1 reported income increased. Initial declines in income tended to lessen over time. CONCLUSIONS Cancer's impact on survivors' income is complex and time-varying. Longitudinal studies are needed to document the trend of initial declines in income, with declines lessening over time, and its variations. Study designs using standardised income measures and capturing treatment type and follow-up time will improve our understanding of cancer's impact on survivors' income.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colene Bentley
- Cancer Control Research, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Canadian Centre for Applied Research in Cancer Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Paulos Teckle
- Cancer Control Research, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Lisa McQuarrie
- Cancer Control Research, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Canadian Centre for Applied Research in Cancer Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stuart Peacock
- Cancer Control Research, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Shiraz El Adam
- Cancer Control Research, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Canadian Centre for Applied Research in Cancer Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Use of patient-reported controls for secular trends to study disparities in cancer-related job loss. J Cancer Surviv 2020; 15:685-695. [PMID: 33106995 PMCID: PMC8071836 DOI: 10.1007/s11764-020-00960-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Racial/ethnic minorities experience greater job loss than whites during periods of economic downturn and after a cancer diagnosis. Therefore, race/ethnicity-matched controls are needed to distinguish the impact of illness on job loss from secular trends METHODS: Surveys were administered during and 4-month post-completion of breast cancer treatment. Patients were pre-diagnosis employed women aged 18-64, undergoing treatment for stage I-III breast cancers, who spoke English, Chinese, Korean, or Spanish. Each patient was asked to: (1) nominate peers who were surveyed in a corresponding timeframe (active controls), (2) report a friend's work status at baseline and follow-up (passive controls). Both types of controls were healthy, employed at baseline, and shared the nominating patient's race/ethnicity, language, and age. The primary outcome was number of evaluable patient-control pairs by type of control. A patient-control pair was evaluable if work status at follow-up was reported for both individuals. RESULTS Of the 180 patients, 25% had evaluable active controls (45 patient-control pairs); 84% had evaluable passive controls (151 patient-control pairs). Although patients with controls differed from those without controls under each strategy, there was no difference in the percentage of controls who were working at follow-up (96% of active controls; 91% of passive controls). However, only 65% of patients were working at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS The majority of patients had evaluable passive controls. There was no significant difference in outcome between controls ascertained through either method IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Passive controls are a low-cost, higher-yield option to control for secular trends in racially/ethnically diverse samples.
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Saim A, Gernier F, Licaj I, Rod J, Velten M, Klein D, Mercier M, Joly F. [Long-term occupational situation after cancer: A French registry-based study]. Bull Cancer 2020; 107:867-880. [PMID: 32919610 DOI: 10.1016/j.bulcan.2020.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Few studies have explored the long-term occupational situation after cancer. The aim of our study were to study the employment status among long-term cancer survivors and to compare it to cancer-free controls from the general population at 5, 10 or 15 years after cancer diagnosis. METHODS From data of a registry-based study, long-term survivors from breast,cervical and colorectal cancer, randomly selected from three tumor registries in France, were compared to cancer-free controls randomly selected from electoral lists. We selected active cancer survivors and cancer-free controls aged less than 60 at the time of the survey. We have studied the employment status of cases vs. controls and the factors associated with employment status. RESULTS At 5, 10 or 15 years after diagnosis, we did not observe any significant difference in employment status between cases and controls. Among cases, 17% had lost their jobs. Older age, lower incomes, lower education, a short-term employment contract, the presence of co-morbidities, fatigue and a worse quality of life were associated with job loss. DISCUSSION Although the employment status of the cases was comparable to that of the controls, efforts should be intensified to make it easier for patients diagnosed with cancer to return to work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akila Saim
- Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, Caen, France; Centre François-Baclesse, UMR 1086 Inserm « ANTICIPE », Caen, France
| | - François Gernier
- Centre François-Baclesse, UMR 1086 Inserm « ANTICIPE », Caen, France; Centre de lutte contre le cancer François-Baclesse, département de recherche clinique, UNICANCER, Caen, France.
| | - Idlir Licaj
- Centre François-Baclesse, UMR 1086 Inserm « ANTICIPE », Caen, France; Centre de lutte contre le cancer François-Baclesse, département de recherche clinique, UNICANCER, Caen, France
| | - Julien Rod
- Centre François-Baclesse, UMR 1086 Inserm « ANTICIPE », Caen, France; CHU de Caen, département de pédiatrie, Caen, France
| | - Michel Velten
- Centre Paul-Strauss, département de biostatistique et d'épidémiologie, EA3430, Strasbourg, France; Hôpitaux universitaires de Strasbourg, Inserm IRFAC UMR-S 1113, Strasbourg, France; Registre des cancers du Bas-Rhin, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Mariette Mercier
- Université of Franche-Comté, EA3181, Besançon, France; Université de Franche-Comté, Inserm UMR 1098, Besançon, France
| | - Florence Joly
- Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, Caen, France; Centre François-Baclesse, UMR 1086 Inserm « ANTICIPE », Caen, France; Centre de lutte contre le cancer François-Baclesse, département de recherche clinique, UNICANCER, Caen, France; CHU de Caen, département d'oncologie, Caen, France
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Bennett D, Kearney T, Donnelly DW, Downing A, Wright P, Wilding S, Wagland R, Watson E, Glaser A, Gavin A. Factors influencing job loss and early retirement in working men with prostate cancer-findings from the population-based Life After Prostate Cancer Diagnosis (LAPCD) study. J Cancer Surviv 2018; 12:669-678. [PMID: 30058009 PMCID: PMC6153559 DOI: 10.1007/s11764-018-0704-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose To investigate factors associated with job loss and early retirement in men diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) 18–42 months previously. Methods Men ≤ 60 years at diagnosis who completed the Life After Prostate Cancer Diagnosis (LAPCD) survey were identified. Men who moved from employment at diagnosis to unemployment (EtoU) or retirement (EtoR) at survey (18–42 months post-diagnosis) were compared to men remaining in employment (EtoE). Sociodemographic, clinical and patient-reported factors were analysed in univariable and multivariable analysis. Results There were 3218 men (81.4%) in the EtoE, 245 (6.2%) in EtoU and 450 (11.4%) in the EtoR groups. Men with stage IV disease (OR = 4.7 95% CI 3.1–7.0, relative to stage I/II) and reporting moderate/big bowel (OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.6–3.9) or urinary problems (OR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.4–3.0) had greater odds of becoming unemployed. Other clinical (≥ 1 comorbidities, symptomatic at diagnosis) and sociodemographic (higher deprivation, divorced/separated), living in Scotland or Northern Ireland (NI)) factors were predictors of becoming unemployed. Men who were older, from NI, with stage IV disease and with caring responsibilities had greater odds of retiring early. Self-employed and non-white men had lesser odds of retiring early. Conclusion PCa survivors who retire early following diagnosis do not report worse urinary or bowel problems compared to men remaining in employment. However, we identified clinical and sociodemographic factors which increased unemployment risk in PCa survivors. Implications for Cancer Survivors Targeted support and engagement with PCa survivors at risk of unemployment, including their families and employers, is needed. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s11764-018-0704-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien Bennett
- Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, Mulhouse Building, Queen's University Belfast, Mulhouse Rd., Belfast, BT12 6DP, Northern Ireland.
| | - Therese Kearney
- Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, Mulhouse Building, Queen's University Belfast, Mulhouse Rd., Belfast, BT12 6DP, Northern Ireland
| | - David W Donnelly
- Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, Mulhouse Building, Queen's University Belfast, Mulhouse Rd., Belfast, BT12 6DP, Northern Ireland
| | - Amy Downing
- Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.,Leeds Institute of Data Analytics, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Penny Wright
- Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Sarah Wilding
- Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.,Leeds Institute of Data Analytics, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Richard Wagland
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Eila Watson
- Faculty Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK
| | - Adam Glaser
- Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.,Leeds Institute of Data Analytics, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Anna Gavin
- Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, Mulhouse Building, Queen's University Belfast, Mulhouse Rd., Belfast, BT12 6DP, Northern Ireland
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Doroudi M, Coughlan D, Banegas MP, Han X, Robin Yabroff K. Is Cancer History Associated With Assets, Debt, and Net Worth in the United States? JNCI Cancer Spectr 2018; 2:pky004. [PMID: 31360843 DOI: 10.1093/jncics/pky004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Revised: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Financial hardships experienced by cancer survivors have become a prominent public health issue in the United States. Few studies of financial hardship have assessed financial holdings, including assets, debts, and their values, associated with a cancer history. Methods Using the 2008-2011 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, we identified 1603 cancer survivors and 34 915 individuals age 18-64 years without a cancer history to assess associations between self-reported cancer history and assets, debts, and net worth. Distributions of self-reported asset and debt ownership, their values, and net worth were compared for adults with and without a cancer history with chi-square statistics. Multivariable ordered probit regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between cancer history and net worth using a two-sided Wald test. All analyses were stratified by age group (18-34, 35-44, 45-54, and 55-64 years). Statistical tests were two-sided. Results Among those age 45-54 years, cancer survivors had a lower proportion of home ownership than individuals without a cancer history (59.0% vs 67.1%, P = .0014) and were statistically significantly more likely to have negative net worth (≤-$3000) and less likely to have positive net worth (≥$3000). Cancer survivors were more likely to have debt than individuals without a cancer history, especially among those age 18-34 years (41.3% vs 27.1%, P < .001). Conclusions Cancer history is associated with lower asset ownership, more debt, and lower net worth, especially in survivors age 45-54 years. Longitudinal studies of financial holdings will be important to inform development of interventions to reduce financial hardship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Doroudi
- Early Detection Branch, Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
| | - Diarmuid Coughlan
- Surveillance Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD
| | | | - Xuesong Han
- Surveillance and Health Services Research Program, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA
| | - K Robin Yabroff
- Office of Health Policy, US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC
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Kuo YH, Tsay SL, Chang CC, Liao YC, Tung HH. Cancer Impact, Complementary/Alternative Medicine Beliefs, and Quality of Life in Cancer Patients. J Altern Complement Med 2017; 24:276-281. [PMID: 28876080 DOI: 10.1089/acm.2016.0396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among cancer impact, belief in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), CAM use, and quality of life (QOL). DESIGN The study used a cross-sectional, descriptive correlational design with convenience sampling. A total of 122 cancer patients participated. Data were collected at a medical center in Chunghua, Taiwan. The questionnaires included the Chinese version of the Cancer Problem in Living Scale (CPILS), Complementary and Alternative Medicine Belief Inventory (CAMBI), Complementary and Alternative Medicine scale, and Chinese versions of QOL scales, including the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G). RESULTS The mean age was 56.5 years, and most participants were male (n = 69, 56.6%), had completed high school or above (n = 56, 45.9%), and were married (n = 109, 89.3%). The most common type of cancer was oral (n = 17, 13.9%), followed by esophageal (n = 15, 12.3%) and colorectal (n = 13, 10.7%). Cancer patients, on average, use one or two types of CAM. The impact of cancer is significantly related to age (F = 7.12, p < 0.05), and income is related to QOL (F = 3.61, p < 0.05). Pearson correlations showed that the use of CAM was positively associated with belief in CAM (CAMBI) (r = 0.26, p = 0.01), and the impact of cancer was highly negatively associated with QOL (r = -0.71, p = 0.001). The predictors of QOL were the impact of cancer and use of CAM, and the impact of cancer accounted for 51% of the variance in QOL. CONCLUSION This study supports research on the impact of cancer, belief in CAM, and use of CAM as related to QOL in cancer patients. These results can be used to provide options to clinicians and cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Hui Kuo
- 1 Nursing Department, Chiayi Christian Hospital , Chiayi City, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Shiow-Luan Tsay
- 2 College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Da-Yeh University, Changhua, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Chun-Chi Chang
- 3 Chunghua Christian Hospital , Changjua City, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Yen-Chi Liao
- 1 Nursing Department, Chiayi Christian Hospital , Chiayi City, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Heng-Hsin Tung
- 4 National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Science , Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.,5 Tungs' Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital , Taiwan, Republic of China
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Soejima T, Kamibeppu K. Are cancer survivors well-performing workers? A systematic review. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol 2016; 12:e383-e397. [DOI: 10.1111/ajco.12515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2015] [Revised: 02/06/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Takafumi Soejima
- Department of Family Nursing; School of Health Sciences and Nursing; Graduate School of Medicine; The University of Tokyo; Tokyo Japan
| | - Kiyoko Kamibeppu
- Department of Family Nursing; School of Health Sciences and Nursing; Graduate School of Medicine; The University of Tokyo; Tokyo Japan
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A controlled cohort study of long-term income in colorectal cancer patients. Support Care Cancer 2014; 22:2821-30. [DOI: 10.1007/s00520-014-2258-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2013] [Accepted: 04/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Shei A, Costa F, Reis MG, Ko AI. The impact of Brazil's Bolsa Família conditional cash transfer program on children's health care utilization and health outcomes. BMC INTERNATIONAL HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS 2014; 14:10. [PMID: 24690131 PMCID: PMC4021270 DOI: 10.1186/1472-698x-14-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2013] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Background Conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs provide poor families with cash conditional on investments in health and education. Brazil’s Bolsa Família program began in 2003 and is currently the largest CCT program in the world. This community-based study examines the impact of Bolsa Família on child health in a slum community in a large urban center. Methods In 2010, detailed household surveys were conducted with randomly selected Bolsa Família beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries in a Brazilian slum community of approximately 14,000 inhabitants in a large urban center. 567 families (with 1,266 children) were interviewed. Propensity score methods were used to control for differences between beneficiary and non-beneficiary children to estimate program impacts on health care utilization and health outcomes. Results Bolsa Família has increased the odds of children’s visits to the health post for preventive services. In children under age seven, Bolsa Família was associated with increased odds for growth monitoring (OR = 3.1; 95% CI 1.9-5.1), vaccinations (OR = 2.8; 95% CI 1.4-5.4), and checkups (OR = 1.6; 95% CI 0.98-2.5), and with the number of growth monitoring visits (β = 0.6; p = 0.049) and checkups (β = 0.2; p = 0.068). There were positive spillover effects on older siblings (ages 7-17) no longer required to meet the health conditionalities. Bolsa Família increased their odds for growth monitoring (OR = 2.5; 95% CI 1.3-4.9) and checkups (OR = 1.7; 95% CI 0.9-3.2) and improved psychosocial health (β = 2.6; p = 0.007). Conclusions Bolsa Família has improved health care utilization, especially for services related to the health conditionalites, and there were positive spillover effects on older siblings. The findings of this study are promising, but they also suggest that further improvements in health may depend on the quality of health care services provided, the scope of services linked to the health conditionalities, and coordination with other social safety net programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amie Shei
- Analysis Group, Inc,, 111 Huntington Avenue, 10th Floor, Boston, MA 02199, USA.
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Subnis UB, Starkweather AR, McCain NL, Brown RF. Psychosocial therapies for patients with cancer: a current review of interventions using psychoneuroimmunology-based outcome measures. Integr Cancer Ther 2013; 13:85-104. [PMID: 24105361 DOI: 10.1177/1534735413503548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As part of a new standard of quality cancer care, the Institute of Medicine has recommended inclusion of therapies that address psychosocial needs of cancer patients. A range of psychosocial therapies for managing acute and chronic stress have been developed for patients with cancer, based on the scientific framework of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI). The current review aimed to identify studies of new and emerging PNI-based psychosocial therapies in patients with cancer that have used neuroendocrine-immune biomarkers as outcomes. Specifically, this review aimed to evaluate studies based on the cancer populations involved, types of psychosocial therapies, and PNI measures employed. METHOD Methodology was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The PubMed, EMBASE, PsychINFO, CINAHL, and Google Scholar online databases were searched using combinations of keywords obtained from previous reviews of psychosocial interventions. Studies from 2001 to 2012 were included if they ( : ) were published in English, ( : ) used experimental or quasi-experimental designs, ( : ) evaluated psychosocial therapies, ( : ) involved cancer patients, and ( : ) reported results on at least one neuroendocrine or immune outcome measure. The search strategy identified 403 records and 2 stages of screening were used to eliminate irrelevant studies. RESULT A total of 24 cancer-specific studies of psychosocial therapies that used PNI-based outcome measures were included in this review. Most studies included early-stage breast cancer patients, and 2 major types of therapies emerged, cognitive-behavioral therapies and complementary medical therapies. Durations of interventions ranged widely, from 1.3 hours over a single week to 27 hours over 18 weeks. Considerable diversity in PNI outcomes made statistical comparisons problematic. Studies of cognitive-behavioral therapies were found to have reported the most success in impacting PNI-based measures, which were typically functional measures of the immune system, for example, cytokines. CONCLUSION Several issues related to research methodology are discussed. Most important, studies examining dose-response associations and resource allocation are needed to guide future research. A standardized panel of psychosocial instruments and biomarkers for PNI-based studies would enhance comparability of findings across studies when evaluating this body of research and assist with integrating psychosocial therapies into the standard of cancer care.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND At a group level, cancer results in reduced labor earnings. Public benefits common to welfare states may, however, compensate for all or parts of the decline in earnings. Norwegian cancer survivors' incomes, including both labor earnings and compensatory welfare benefits, were compared to those of the cancer-free population to assess potential welfare consequences of cancer. Possible modifying effects of parental and marital status, education, prior earnings and age were assessed in depth. MATERIAL AND METHODS Log-linear regression models were used to estimate incomes across different sociodemographic variables using register data covering the entire Norwegian population 40-59 years old with any income in 2008, 536 600 men and 502 500 women, of whom more than 17,000 were diagnosed with cancer in 2000-2007. RESULTS Compared to the cancer-free general population, cancer was associated with a modest 7% decline in incomes overall. The decline was, however, significantly associated with sociodemographic factors, marital status exempted. Childless men with low education and low prior earnings were most adversely affected. Lymphomas and lung cancer accounted largely for these unfavorable effects. CONCLUSIONS Declines in earnings after cancer are to a large degree compensated by the Norwegian welfare state, and incomes overall are only modestly decreased among cancer survivors compared to the general population. Persons with multiple unfavorable sociodemographic characteristics experience particularly low incomes after cancer. This is of concern in a supposedly egalitarian society with public health care and antidiscrimination acts in place. Welfare state interventions, i.e. work reintegration efforts and/or compensations for labor earning drops, directed specifically towards these subgroups might be warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astri Syse
- Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway.
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Ullrich A, Böttcher HM, Bergelt C. Geschlechtsspezifische Aspekte der Rückkehr zur Arbeit bei Patientinnen und Patienten mit einer Krebserkrankung. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2012; 55:516-32. [DOI: 10.1007/s00103-012-1454-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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14
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Donley G, Danis M. Making the case for talking to patients about the costs of end-of-life care. THE JOURNAL OF LAW, MEDICINE & ETHICS : A JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF LAW, MEDICINE & ETHICS 2011; 39:183-193. [PMID: 21561513 PMCID: PMC3635951 DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-720x.2011.00587.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Costs at the end of life disproportionately contribute to health care costs in the United States. Addressing these costs will therefore be an important component in making the U.S. health care system more financially sustainable. In this paper, we explore the moral justifications for having discussions of end-of-life costs in the doctor-patient encounter as part of an effort to control costs. As health care costs are partly shared through pooled resources, such as insurance and taxation, and partly borne by individuals through out-of-pocket expenses, we separate our defense for, and approach to, discussing both pooled and individual aspects of cost. We argue that there needs to be a shift away from formulating the options as a dichotomous choice of paying attention to end-of-life costs versus ignoring such costs. The question should be how personal costs will be managed and how societal expenditures should be allocated. These are issues that we believe patients care about and need to have addressed in a manner with which they are comfortable. Conversations about how money will be spent at the end of life should begin before the end is near. We propose discussing costs from the onset of chronic illness and incorporating financial issues in advance care planning. Through these approaches one can avoid abruptly and insensitively introducing financial issues at the very conclusion of a person's life when one would prefer to address the painful and important issues of spiritual and existential loss that are appropriately the focus when a person is dying.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greer Donley
- Department of Bioethics, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Feuerstein M, Todd BL, Moskowitz MC, Bruns GL, Stoler MR, Nassif T, Yu X. Work in cancer survivors: a model for practice and research. J Cancer Surviv 2010; 4:415-37. [DOI: 10.1007/s11764-010-0154-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2010] [Accepted: 09/30/2010] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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Moffatt S, Noble E, Exley C. "Done more for me in a fortnight than anybody done in all me life." How welfare rights advice can help people with cancer. BMC Health Serv Res 2010; 10:259. [PMID: 20815908 PMCID: PMC2941682 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6963-10-259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2010] [Accepted: 09/03/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the UK many people with cancer and their carers do not have easy access to the welfare benefits to which they are entitled adding further strain to the process of dealing with cancer. It is estimated that nine out of ten cancer patients' households experience loss of income as a direct result of cancer, which, due to its socio-economic patterning disproportionately affects those most likely to be financially disadvantaged. In the UK proactive welfare rights advice services accessed via health care settings significantly increase benefit entitlement among people with health problems and this paper reports on a qualitative study examining the impact of a welfare rights advice service specifically designed for people affected by cancer and their carers in County Durham, North East England (UK). METHODS Twenty two men and women with cancer or caring for someone with cancer who were recipients of welfare rights advice aged between 35 and 83 were recruited from a variety of health care and community settings. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken and analysed using the Framework method. RESULTS Most of the participants experienced financial strain following their cancer diagnosis. Participants accessed the welfare rights service in a variety of ways, but mainly through referral by other professionals. The additional income generated by successful benefit claims was used in a number of ways and included offsetting additional costs associated with cancer and lessening the impact of loss of earnings. Overall, receiving welfare rights advice eased feelings of stress over financial issues at a time when participants were concerned about dealing with the impact of cancer. Lack of knowledge about benefit entitlements was the main barrier to accessing benefits, and this outweighed attitudinal factors such as stigma and concerns about benefit fraud. CONCLUSIONS Financial strain resulting from a cancer diagnosis is compounded in the UK by lack of easy access to information about benefit entitlements and assistance to claim. Proactive welfare rights advice services, working closely with health and social care professionals can assist with the practical demands that arise from dealing with the illness and should be considered an important part of a holistic approach to cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne Moffatt
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Baddiley-Clarke Building, Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Richardson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4AX, UK.
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