Simav Vocational School of Health Services, Kutahya Health Sciences University, Kutahya, Turkey.
Department of Oncology Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Turkey.
Support Care Cancer. 2023 Apr 20;31(5):288. doi: 10.1007/s00520-023-07751-1.
Patients with multiple myeloma and their caregivers are financially burdened, and their quality of life is significantly affected by treatment costs and care expenses. The aim of our study is to examine the impact of financial well-being of the caregiver on the life quality of patients with multiple myeloma.
The study included 113 patients with multiple myeloma and 113 caregivers in two hospitals located in Western Turkey. This study evaluated the demographic characteristics of patients and their caregivers, financial status, financial well-being, and quality of life of caregivers. Simple linear regression analyses were used to examine the impact of financial well-being on caregiver quality of life.
The average age of multiple myeloma patients and caregivers is 64.00 ± 11.05 and 48.02 ± 11.4, respectively. Of patients, 50.4% and 62.8% of their caregivers were female. It is determined that 51.3% of the patients were diagnosed in 1-5 years, 85% received chemotherapy, and 80.5% had an ECOG performance status between 0 and 1. Caregivers' quality of life and financial well-being were found to be low. On one hand, while caregivers' financial well-being (β = - 1.003; t = - 3.831; p = .000) negatively affected the quality of their lives, their financial satisfaction (β = 2.507; t = 3.820; p = .000) positively affected the quality of their lives, on the other hand.
Caregivers' quality of life declined as their financial well-being got worse. Decreased quality of life of caregivers may affect the quality of care they provide to patients with MM. Hence, this study recommends the following. First, nurses who care for patients with MM should always assess the financial situation of patients and caregivers. Second, patient navigators, hospital billing specialists, and social workers should provide financial guidance to multiple myeloma patients and caregivers and provide help in solving their financial problems. Finally, policies that support the financial situation of patients and caregivers should be developed.
多发性骨髓瘤患者及其照护者经济负担沉重，治疗费用和照护费用对其生活质量有显著影响。本研究旨在探讨照护者的经济福祉对多发性骨髓瘤患者生活质量的影响。
本研究纳入了位于土耳其西部的两家医院的 113 名多发性骨髓瘤患者和 113 名照护者。该研究评估了患者及其照护者的人口统计学特征、财务状况、经济福祉和照护者的生活质量。采用简单线性回归分析来检验经济福祉对照护者生活质量的影响。
多发性骨髓瘤患者和照护者的平均年龄分别为 64.00±11.05 岁和 48.02±11.4 岁。患者中，50.4%和 62.8%的照护者为女性。51.3%的患者诊断时间在 1-5 年，85%接受了化疗，80.5%的 ECOG 表现状态为 0-1。照护者的生活质量和经济福祉较低。一方面，照护者的经济福祉（β=-1.003；t=-3.831；p=.000）负向影响其生活质量，而他们的经济满意度（β=2.507；t=3.820；p=.000）正向影响其生活质量；另一方面。
照护者的经济福祉越差，其生活质量越低。照护者生活质量的下降可能会影响他们为多发性骨髓瘤患者提供的护理质量。因此，本研究建议：首先，照顾多发性骨髓瘤患者的护士应始终评估患者和照护者的财务状况。其次，患者导航员、医院计费专家和社会工作者应为多发性骨髓瘤患者及其照护者提供经济指导，并帮助解决他们的经济问题。最后，应制定支持患者和照护者经济状况的政策。
