Meehan Kenneth R, Fitzmaurice Thomas, Root Lynn, Kimtis Elizabeth, Patchett Linda, Hill John
Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Section of Hematology/Oncology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Norris Cotton Cancer Center, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA.
J Support Oncol. 2006 Apr;4(4):187-90.
This study is a prospective evaluation of the time commitment and financial requirements of caregivers of autologous stem cell recipients during the period of inpatient hospitalization. Eligible patients identified one caregiver, and a one-page survey addressing the necessary time commitment and out-of-pocket expenses was completed by the caregiver at each visit. The caregivers of 40 patients participated (non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [n = 19], multiple myeloma [n = 18], Hodgkin's lymphoma [n = 2], or acute myelogenous leukemia [n = 1]). Caregivers included spouses (n = 35), partners/friends (n = 2), or family members (n = 3). Results were summarized for the patient's total length of stay. Each caregiver traveled a median of 829 miles over 17.8 hours. Out-of-pocket expenses varied greatly depending on whether a caregiver stayed in local accommodations (cohort 1; n = 11) or in the patient's hospital room (cohort 2; n = 29). Total expenses (median) for each caregiver in cohort 1 were dollar 849.35, including accommodations (dollar 560), gasoline (dollar 87.35), and food (dollar 202). Total expenses (median) for each caregiver in cohort 2 were dollar 181.15, including gasoline (dollar 70) and food (dollar 111.15). Each caregiver in cohort 1 lost a median of 43.5 hours of work compared with 8 hours for each caregiver in cohort 2. The results from this prospective study demonstrate that there is a significant financial and time requirement on the part of the caregiver when a family member or significant other is hospitalized for an autologous stem cell transplant.
本研究是一项前瞻性评估，旨在了解自体干细胞移植受者住院期间其照顾者所需投入的时间和费用。符合条件的患者指定一名照顾者，照顾者在每次就诊时填写一份关于所需时间投入和自付费用的单页调查问卷。40名患者的照顾者参与了调查（非霍奇金淋巴瘤[n = 19]、多发性骨髓瘤[n = 18]、霍奇金淋巴瘤[n = 2]或急性髓性白血病[n = 1]）。照顾者包括配偶（n = 35）、伴侣/朋友（n = 2）或家庭成员（n = 3）。对患者的总住院时长的结果进行了总结。每位照顾者平均行程829英里，耗时17.8小时。自付费用因照顾者是住在当地住宿处（第1组；n = 11）还是住在患者的病房（第2组；n = 29）而有很大差异。第1组每位照顾者的总费用（中位数）为849.35美元，包括住宿费（560美元）、汽油费（87.35美元）和食品费（202美元）。第2组每位照顾者的总费用（中位数）为181.15美元，包括汽油费（70美元）和食品费（111.15美元）。第1组每位照顾者平均损失43.5小时的工作时间，而第2组每位照顾者平均损失8小时。这项前瞻性研究的结果表明，当家庭成员或重要他人因自体干细胞移植住院时，照顾者在经济和时间方面存在重大需求。
