Determining the Costs of Families%26apos; Support Networks Following a Child%26apos;s Cancer Diagnosis

作者：Tsimicalis Argerie^*; Stevens Bonnie; Ungar Wendy J; Greenberg Mark; McKeever Patricia; Agha Mohammad; Guerriere Denise; Barr Ronald; Naqvi Ahmed; Moineddin Rahim

来源：Cancer Nursing, 2013, 36(2): E8-E19.

DOI：10.1097/NCC.0b013e3182551562

• Caregivers
• Cost of illness
• Costs and cost analysis
• Intergenerational relations
• Oncology
• Social support
• Support network

Background: Cancer in children may place considerable economic burden on more than individual family members. The costs incurred to families%26apos; support networks (FSNs) have not been previously studied. Objectives: The study objectives were to (a) identify and determine independent predictors of the direct and time costs incurred by the FSN and (b) explore the impact of these cancer-related costs on the FSN. Methods: A prospective mixed-methods study was conducted. Representing the FSN, parents recorded the resources consumed and costs incurred during 1 week per month for 3 consecutive months, beginning 1 month following their child%26apos;s diagnosis. Descriptive statistics, multiple regression modeling, and descriptive qualitative analytical methods were used to analyze the data. Results: In total, 28 fathers and 71 mothers participated. The median total direct and time costs for the 3 months were CAN$154 and $2776, respectively, per FSN. The largest component of direct and time costs was travel and foregone leisure. Direct and time costs were greatest among those parents who identified a support network at baseline. Parents relied on their FSN to %26quot;hold the fort,%26quot; which entailed providing financial support, assuming household chores, maintaining the siblings%26apos; routines, and providing cancer-related care. Conclusions: Families%26apos; support networks are confronted with a wide range of direct and time costs, the largest being travel and foregone leisure. Implications for Practice: Families%26apos; support networks play an important role in mitigating the effects of families%26apos; costs. Careful screening of families without an FSN is needed.

• 出版日期2013-4