The Economic Impact on Families When a Child Is Diagnosed with Cancer
Objective: In a study conducted in New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador, we examined the economic impact on families caring for a child with cancer. Methods: We undertook semi-structured interviews with 28 French and English families with a child diagnosed with cancer in the last 10 years. Re...
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ftmdpi:oai:mdpi.com:/1718-7729/15/4/260/ 2023-08-20T04:08:05+02:00 The Economic Impact on Families When a Child Is Diagnosed with Cancer B. Miedema J. Easley P. Fortin R. Hamilton M. Mathews 2008-08-01 application/pdf https://doi.org/10.3747/co.v15i4.260 EN eng Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute https://dx.doi.org/10.3747/co.v15i4.260 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Current Oncology; Volume 15; Issue 4; Pages: 173-178 childhood cancer economic effects qualitative study effects on work travel expenses out-of-pocket expenses Text 2008 ftmdpi https://doi.org/10.3747/co.v15i4.260 2023-08-01T00:45:43Z Objective: In a study conducted in New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador, we examined the economic impact on families caring for a child with cancer. Methods: We undertook semi-structured interviews with 28 French and English families with a child diagnosed with cancer in the last 10 years. Results: Families who care for a child with cancer incur considerable costs during the diagnostic, treatment, and follow-up care phases of the disease. Four major themes emerged from this qualitative study as contributing factors for these expenses: necessary travel; loss of income because of a reduction or termination of parental employment; out-of-pocket treatment expenses; and inability to draw on assistance programs to supplement or replace lost income. In addition, many of the decisions with regard to the primary caregiver were gendered. Typically, the mother is the one who terminated or reduced work hours, which affected the entire family’s financial well-being. Conclusions: For families with children diagnosed with cancer, financial issues emerged as a significant concern at a time when these families were already consumed with other challenges. This economic burden can have long-term effects on the financial security, quality of life, and future well-being of the entire family, including the siblings of the affected child, but in particular the mother. Financial assistance programs for families of seriously ill children need to be revisited and expanded. Text Newfoundland MDPI Open Access Publishing Newfoundland Current Oncology 15 4 173 178 |
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childhood cancer economic effects qualitative study effects on work travel expenses out-of-pocket expenses |
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childhood cancer economic effects qualitative study effects on work travel expenses out-of-pocket expenses B. Miedema J. Easley P. Fortin R. Hamilton M. Mathews The Economic Impact on Families When a Child Is Diagnosed with Cancer |
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childhood cancer economic effects qualitative study effects on work travel expenses out-of-pocket expenses |
description |
Objective: In a study conducted in New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador, we examined the economic impact on families caring for a child with cancer. Methods: We undertook semi-structured interviews with 28 French and English families with a child diagnosed with cancer in the last 10 years. Results: Families who care for a child with cancer incur considerable costs during the diagnostic, treatment, and follow-up care phases of the disease. Four major themes emerged from this qualitative study as contributing factors for these expenses: necessary travel; loss of income because of a reduction or termination of parental employment; out-of-pocket treatment expenses; and inability to draw on assistance programs to supplement or replace lost income. In addition, many of the decisions with regard to the primary caregiver were gendered. Typically, the mother is the one who terminated or reduced work hours, which affected the entire family’s financial well-being. Conclusions: For families with children diagnosed with cancer, financial issues emerged as a significant concern at a time when these families were already consumed with other challenges. This economic burden can have long-term effects on the financial security, quality of life, and future well-being of the entire family, including the siblings of the affected child, but in particular the mother. Financial assistance programs for families of seriously ill children need to be revisited and expanded. |
format |
Text |
author |
B. Miedema J. Easley P. Fortin R. Hamilton M. Mathews |
author_facet |
B. Miedema J. Easley P. Fortin R. Hamilton M. Mathews |
author_sort |
B. Miedema |
title |
The Economic Impact on Families When a Child Is Diagnosed with Cancer |
title_short |
The Economic Impact on Families When a Child Is Diagnosed with Cancer |
title_full |
The Economic Impact on Families When a Child Is Diagnosed with Cancer |
title_fullStr |
The Economic Impact on Families When a Child Is Diagnosed with Cancer |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Economic Impact on Families When a Child Is Diagnosed with Cancer |
title_sort |
economic impact on families when a child is diagnosed with cancer |
publisher |
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute |
publishDate |
2008 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3747/co.v15i4.260 |
geographic |
Newfoundland |
geographic_facet |
Newfoundland |
genre |
Newfoundland |
genre_facet |
Newfoundland |
op_source |
Current Oncology; Volume 15; Issue 4; Pages: 173-178 |
op_relation |
https://dx.doi.org/10.3747/co.v15i4.260 |
op_rights |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3747/co.v15i4.260 |
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Current Oncology |
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15 |
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4 |
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173 |
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178 |
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