ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study is to estimate the cost of cancer care after its diagnosis and to identify factors that can influence the cost of cancer care. METHODS: The study subjects were patients with an initial diagnosis one of four selected tumors and had their first two-years of cancer care at a national cancer center. The data were obtained from medical records and patient surveys. We classified cancer care costs into medical and nonmedical costs, and each cost was analyzed for burden type, medical service, and cancer stage according to cancer types. Factors affecting cancer care costs for the initial phase included demographic variables, socioeconomic status and clinical variables. RESULTS: Cancer care costs for the initial year following diagnosis were higher than the costs for the following successive year after diagnosis. Lung cancer (25,648,000 won) had higher costs than the other three cancer types. Of the total costs, patent burden was more than 50% and medical costs accounted for more than 60%. Inpatient costs accounted for more than 60% of the medical costs for stomach and liver cancer in the initial phase. Care for late-stage cancer was more expensive than care for early-stage cancer. Nonmedical costs were estimated to be between 4,500,000 to 6,000,000 won with expenses for the caregiver being the highest. The factors affecting cancer care costs were treatment type and cancer stage. CONCLUSIONS: The cancer care costs after diagnosis are substantial and vary by cancer site, cancer stage and treatment type. It is useful for policy makers and researchers to identify tumor-specific medical and nonmedical costs. The effort to reduce cancer costs and early detection for cancer can reduce the burden to society and improve quality of life for the cancer patients.
Subject(s)
Humans , Cancer Care Facilities/economics , Cost of Illness , Health Care Costs , Health Expenditures , Korea , Neoplasms/economicsABSTRACT
Objetivo Se realiza una aproximación a las barreras geográficas y económicas para el acceso a los servicios oncológicos del Instituto Nacional de Cancerología-INC; Se presenta la necesidad de plantear alternativas para afrontar estas problemáticas y considerar estudios que evalúen problemáticas similares y sus soluciones Métodos Se utilizaron los métodos cualitativo y cuantitativo en lo referente a datos estadísticos, dentro de un contexto de interés social, con un enfoque empírico analítico. Resultados Se encontró que durante el 2005, tuvieron acceso al programa de albergues solo 176 pacientes de los 3 391 pacientes provenientes de regiones del país distintas a Bogotá atendidos en el mismo periodo; es decir que el programa solo cubrió el 5,19 por ciento de los pacientes de diferentes lugares del país. De igual manera se encontró que se debe afrontar la inequidad de género que hasta la fecha se ha venido presentando con los varones. Conclusiones Se deben buscar alternativas de alojamiento diferentes a los albergues, que hagan posible el acceso al tratamiento especializado con dignidad y calidad de vida. El estudio permitió plantear alternativas de solución a corto, mediano y largo plazo.
Objective Geographical and economic barriers to access to National Cancer Institute (NCI) oncology services were evaluated; such approach revealed the need for alternatives for dealing with these issues and considering studies aimed at assessing similar problems and resolving them. Methods An analytical empirical approach used qualitative and quantitative statistical methods were used within a context of social concern. Results Only 176 out of 3 391 patients had access to the "Temporary-housing programme" during 2005, covering 5,19 percent of all patients coming from remote regions of Colombia. Most patients were women who were looking for alternatives outside the institutional programmes being offered. Conclusion There is a need to fix gender inequity and search for better housing alternatives to providing refuges, providing access to specialised treatment and the need for attending people with dignity and ensuring quality of life. The study led to proposing new short-, medium- and long-term alternatives for improving health service access.