IJSTR >> Volume 8 - Issue 11, November 2019 Edition

[Full Text]

AUTHOR(S)

Tonia Mei-Shia Jong, Chin-Hong Puah, Choi-Yean Yeoh, Rayenda Khresna Brahmana, Shirly Siew-Ling Wong

KEYWORDS

awareness, cancer patients, cancer treatment, direct and indirect costs, financial burden.

ABSTRACT

The financial burden of cancer treatment has a huge influence on the patients and their families. However, there is a lack of information about the financial impact of cancer treatment on cancer patients. Better planning of financial expenses for cancer treatment can improve the recovery process of the patient. Accordingly, this paper serves as a preliminary study on the direct and indirect cancer treatment costs borne by the cancer patients. By surveying cancer patients or survivors in the Kuching area, the empirical findings indicated that the cost of cancer treatment in the public hospitals is far more affordable than private hospitals. Moreover, the empirical results showed that the main expenses (cost of doctor appointments, consultation and treatment costs) are greatly affected by the financial condition of cancer patients. The factors of “additional expenses of cancer” such as cost of food, cost of household bills and cost of specialist equipment and modifications were also statistically supported as causing high financial burdens on the respondents. Daily expenses like food, groceries, and education expenses have been reduced due to finance treatment. Awareness about cancer treatment costs is important so that patients can better plan accordingly.

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