Aims

The aims of the study were to explore medicine affordability and financial impacts for people experiencing cancer. 

Method

A cross-sectional pen-and-paper questionnaire was administered to oncology outpatients attending for treatment or appointments at two hospitals in regional New South Wales and metropolitan Victoria. 

Results

Two-hundred and sixty nine participants completed the questionnaire (response rate=58%). Almost ten percent (9.09%) of study participants had used over-the-counter medicines rather than prescribed medicines for cancer, and 9.33% reported obtaining some but not all of the cancer medicines prescribed. One-third (33%) of the participants reported experiencing a moderate or heavy financial burden in the prior three months due to prescribed medicines. Sixty-six percent of the respondents indicated a change in their employment and 63% reported a reduced income since being diagnosed with cancer. A mean reduction to approximately half of pre-diagnosis income was reported by those with a reduced income. The most common financial factors influencing treatment decision-making were the costs of travelling to and from treatment (15%) and loss of income (14%). Most (71%) of those impacted by a financial factor indicated that the financial factor made the decision difficult, but did not change their treatment decision. More than one-third of those who did not access financial assistance were unaware it was available. Those having a reduced income since being diagnosed with cancer had over 4 times the odds (OR=4.07) of reporting a heavy or extreme financial burden associated with prescribed medicines for cancer. 

Conclusion

It appears likely that greater efforts to limit the costs of prescribed cancer and improve the accessibility of financial assistance may reduce the hardship experienced by cancer patients and limit potential inequities.