Financial Toxicity and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Cancer Patients: A Correlational Study

Abstract

Introduction: Financial toxicity can increase healthcare costs, in addition to negatively impacting the therapeutic adherence and health- related quality of life of cancer patients within the public healthcare system. Objective: To correlate financial toxicity with the adults living with cancer health-related quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: This is an observational, cross-sectional, correlational study conducted with 179 patients receiving care from the Unified Health System in a capital city in southern Brazil. Data collection was performed from September 2021 to December 2022, using questionnaires containing sociodemographic and clinical data, and the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General. The correlation between financial toxicity and health-related quality of life was assessed using Spearman’s correlation coefficient at a 5 % significance level. Results: The correlation between financial toxicity and health-related quality of life was 0.41 (p-value < 0.001). The financial toxicity and health-related quality of life scores were 20.1/44 and 73.3/108, respectively. Conclusion: This study has found that the lower the financial toxicity, the better the patients’ health-related quality of life. In this sense, recognizing the presence of financial toxicity in the treatment course could help improve adherence to treatment and health-related quality of life.