The experience of subjective financial distress on cancer patients in China: A qualitative study

To explore the experience of Chinese cancer patients with SFD (Subjective Financial Distress), and add new evidence to studies on the SFD of cancer.

Cancer patients and caregivers hospitalized in the oncology department of a Grade A hospital in Jiangsu Province from August 2022 to October 2022 were recruited as participants for semi-structured interviews using purposeful sampling and the maximum variation principle. The themes were extracted using Colaizzi's phenomenological data analysis method.

The interview involved 24 participants who qualified, comprising 15 patients and 9 caregivers. A total of 3 themes and 9 sub-themes were extracted from interviews: (1) financial risk perception (increasing objective financial burden, decreasing financial accessibility); (2) coping behaviors (changes in daily consumption patterns, changes in work status, changes in treatment plans, and seeking support); (3) negative psychological response (personal dimension, family dimension, and social dimension).

SFD is widely present in Chinese cancer families and is being dealt with passively, which adversely affects the lives or work of cancer families. Healthcare professionals should pay attention to this phenomenon and conduct early and comprehensive assessments so that future interventions can be implemented to alleviate their SFD.