Vöröš Katja, Skubic Marjeta, Bavdaž Mojca, Došenović Bonča Petra, Perhavec Andraž, Redek Tjaša, Zobec Logar Helena Barbara, Ratoša Ivica
Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
School of Economics and Business, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Support Care Cancer. 2025 May 30;33(6):515. doi: 10.1007/s00520-025-09591-7.
The aim of this study was to assess the extent of financial toxicity in patients with cancer in Slovenia, measured as perceived financial strain and out-of-pocket expenditures.
The prospective, cross-sectional study was done at Institute of Oncology Ljubljana from June to October 2023. A newly created individual questionnaire was utilized to obtain data on financial toxicity. Patients completed the questionnaire either on paper or online, with or without the assistance of a researcher. The statistical analysis was based on descriptive and inferential statistics.
A total of 901 surveys were disseminated, of which 659 were returned, corresponding to a response rate of 73%. Most patients had compulsory health insurance and were diagnosed in the public healthcare system. Following a cancer diagnosis, 178 (27%) patients reported a decline in financial satisfaction (subjective assessment), while 150 (22.7%) patients observed a change in their financial capability (objective assessment). Younger patients (p < 0.001), female patients (p < 0.004), patients with lower net household income (p < 0.001), and patients who were employed before the diagnosis (p < 0.001) were at a greater risk for financial toxicity. Patients with breast cancer and colorectal, endometrial, skin (including melanoma), esophageal, stomach, kidney, bladder cancers, and lymphoma had higher self-reported subjective and objective financial toxicity than patients with prostate, lung, and head and neck cancer.
This article represents the first comprehensive assessment of financial toxicity among patients with cancer in Slovenia, using perceived financial strain and out-of-pocket expenditures. Most patients reported no significant out-of-pocket costs for the treatment they received. About a quarter of patients with cancer experience financial difficulties.
本研究旨在评估斯洛文尼亚癌症患者的经济毒性程度，以感知到的经济压力和自付费用来衡量。
这项前瞻性横断面研究于2023年6月至10月在卢布尔雅那肿瘤研究所进行。使用新创建的个人问卷来获取有关经济毒性的数据。患者在有或没有研究人员协助的情况下，通过纸质或在线方式完成问卷。统计分析基于描述性和推断性统计。
共发放了901份调查问卷，其中659份被收回，回复率为73%。大多数患者拥有强制健康保险，并在公共医疗系统中被诊断。癌症诊断后，178名（27%）患者报告经济满意度下降（主观评估），而150名（22.7%）患者观察到其经济能力发生变化（客观评估）。年轻患者（p < 0.001）、女性患者（p < 0.004）、家庭净收入较低的患者（p < 0.001）以及诊断前就业的患者（p < 0.001）面临更高的经济毒性风险。乳腺癌、结直肠癌、子宫内膜癌、皮肤癌（包括黑色素瘤）、食管癌、胃癌、肾癌、膀胱癌和淋巴瘤患者报告的主观和客观经济毒性高于前列腺癌、肺癌以及头颈癌患者。
本文是对斯洛文尼亚癌症患者经济毒性的首次全面评估，采用了感知到的经济压力和自付费用。大多数患者报告他们接受的治疗没有重大自付费用。约四分之一的癌症患者经历经济困难。
