Multiple regression analysis reveals that financial hardship decreases health-related quality of life in cancer patients, highlighting the need for supportive policies.
Background: The purpose of this study is to estimate the impact of out-of-pocket expenditure on the quality of life among cancer patients. A study with 133 cancer patients was conducted in North India. The quality of life was assessed using the EORTC-30 questionnaire. Method: A multiple linear regression model was used to estimate parameters associated with quality of life. Patients who incur no out-of-pocket costs have a higher quality of life than those who do. Results: The average difference in quality of life ratings is 18.57, with a 95% confidence interval of 11.29 to 25.85. Excessively high cancer care costs and more spending, particularly among the lower economic group, resulted in a poor quality of life. Conclusion: Patients undergoing out-of-pocket expenses had a lower quality of life, whereas those receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy had a lower quality of life than those undergoing surgery.
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Singh et al. (2025) studied this question.
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