Strategies for Appropriate Patient-centered Care to Decrease the Nationwide Cost of Cancers in Korea

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Oncology
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Cancer is the leading cause of premature mortality in Korea, necessitating government intervention.
• Implemented cancer control programs aim to reduce incidence, improve survival, and decrease mortality.
• These programs may inadvertently escalate healthcare costs due to over-diagnosis, over-treatment, defensive medicine, and futile care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore strategies for reducing the cost burden associated with cancer care in Korea.
• To emphasize the importance of appropriate cancer care and patient-centered approaches.
• To identify practical measures for optimizing cancer treatment expenses.

Main Methods:

• The study reviews existing cancer control programs and their economic implications.
• It highlights the necessity of patient-doctor communication for shared decision-making.
• The analysis suggests the introduction of value-based medicine and cost-utility studies.

Main Results:

• Cancer control initiatives, while beneficial, can lead to increased healthcare expenditures.
• Appropriate cancer care, defined by shared utility values and autonomous patient decisions, is crucial.
• Strategies like value-based medicine and patient decision aids can mitigate cost burdens.

Conclusions:

• Reducing the cost burden of cancer requires a shift towards appropriate, patient-centered care.
• Enhanced patient-doctor communication is fundamental for making autonomous and informed medical decisions.
• Implementing value-based medicine, cost-utility analyses, and patient decision aids are recommended strategies.