Caregivers' Out-of-Pocket Expenses and Time Commitment Following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation at a Rural...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Caregiver Support
• Health Economics

Background:

• Caregiver burden in cancer care is often discussed in terms of emotional and physical tolls.
• However, research on the financial and time burdens faced by caregivers, particularly those supporting hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients, is limited.
• Rural settings may exacerbate these challenges for caregivers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively assess the out-of-pocket expenses and time commitment for caregivers of HSCT recipients.
• To evaluate these burdens within the first 4 weeks after patient discharge from a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center.
• To determine if rural location impacts caregiver financial and time burdens.

Main Methods:

• Prospective trial design.
• Inclusion of caregivers of autologous and allogeneic HSCT recipients.
• Data collection on out-of-pocket expenses, lost wages, and travel distance within 4 weeks post-discharge.

Main Results:

• Caregivers of autologous HSCT recipients incurred $196 in out-of-pocket expenses, rising to $736 with lost wages.
• Caregivers of allogeneic HSCT recipients had $110 in out-of-pocket expenses, totaling $610 with lost wages.
• Median travel distances were 450 miles (autologous) and 560 miles (allogeneic) in the first month post-discharge.

Conclusions:

• Caregivers of HSCT recipients face substantial financial and time commitments.
• These findings underscore an urgent need for targeted caregiver support programs.
• The significant costs associated with HSCT care highlight economic disparities in cancer survivorship.