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M-THAC Research Unit - Greatest Hits CDM-THAC Projects |
Project Title: Out-of-pocket Costs for Cancer Patients
Research Team:
Longo, C.
Deber, R.
Fitch, M.
Williams, P.
Canadian Medicare guarantees universal coverage for 'medically necessary' services delivered in hospitals or by doctors.
As the province of Ontario shifts more of its treatment to the outpatient cancer setting, there is concern that patients may be required to pay for services and supplies that would have been covered in the inpatient setting. This study, the PhD project of Christopher Longo, measured the extent and characteristics of this potential financial burden in Ontario, and the extent to which it presented a significant barrier to care.
The study used a self-administered questionnaire. The population being studied was individuals with prostate, breast, lung or colo-rectal cancer who were being treated at a participating Ontario cancer clinic, and were not in their first month of treatment. Costs were divided into the following categories: prescription medications, hospital services, homecare services, homemaking services, alternative medicine, vitamins/minerals, devices/equipment, child/elder care, accomodation/meals, travel, and other. Additional questions asked about demographic information, level of insurance coverage (both private, and special government programs), lost time from work and extent to which these costs present a financial burden.
This project received seed funding from the January 2002 Opportunities Fund.
Selected Publications:
- Longo CJ, Deber R, Fitch M, Williams P. DeSouza D. An examination of cancer patients' monthly "out-of-pocket" costs in Ontario". European Journal of Cancer Care, Accepted Dec 2006. (in press)