ABSTRACT
Objective:This study aims to investigate the inner experiences of cancer patients when confronting financial toxicity through a Meta-analytical approach. The goal is to provide evidence-based insights and theoretical references for clinical healthcare professionals to fully understand the feelings and experiences associated with financial toxicity in cancer patients, thereby laying a foundation for targeted interventional measures.Methods:A computerized search was conducted across databases including CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang, VIP, Sinomed and other databases, collecting qualitative studies related to the inner experience of financial toxicity among cancer patients, up until April 12, 2023. Quality appraisal of the included literature was carried out according to JBI′s standards for qualitative research, and results were synthesized using Meta-aggregation methods.Results:Twenty-three studies were included, from which 82 specific outcomes were extracted. These were categorized into 11 new thematic groups and ultimately synthesized into four integrated findings: the impact of objective costs, subjective burden, and unreasonable expectations; diverse cognitive attitudes and management coping strategies; multiple pressures and challenges on patients and their families; and the articulation of needs and perceptions of beneficial growth.Conclusions:Healthcare professionals should pay attention to the financial toxicity issues that patients face at the initial stage of cancer diagnosis. Timely communication about economic issues between patients and healthcare providers is essential to help patients have a preliminary understanding of the impending financial toxicity at the onset of the disease. A comprehensive intervention that emphasizes different aspects of objective and subjective financial toxicity, coupled with multi-dimensional mitigation strategies, can promote active coping in patients, enhance familial emotional and financial support to overcome challenges together, and prioritize patients′ needs and expectations to guide them towards reinforcing positive experiences and minimizing the impact of financial toxicity.