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Journal of Paediatrics and Child
Health
Volume 39 Issue 4 Page 254 - May 2003
doi:10.1046/j.1440-1754.2003.00138.x
1993.
Self-administered questionnaires were completed by the parents of
237 children from throughout New Zealand with different types of
cancer. Dollar amounts were adjusted to the equivalent of December
2000.
Results: Eighty-six
per cent of the 192 living children were well or in remission. A
further 45 children had died. The average extra amount spent,
because of the child's illness, by the family of a living child in
the 30 days prior to participation in the study was NZ$220 (SD
NZ$330). On average, this was 13% of the family income after tax.
After reported entitlement to compensation from various sources was
allowed for, families were left with a mean deficit of NZ$157 (SD
NZ$278) for the 30 days. Twelve families had a shortfall of more
than NZ$500, including three families that had a shortfall of more
than NZ$1000. Expenditure was greater for those whose children spent
more time in hospital (P = 0.003). There was no significant
association between the total cost and the distance travelled to the
treatment centre (P = 0.96). For 24 families, after-tax
income in the month prior to participation in the study was at least
NZ$500 lower than it had been in the month before the child's
diagnosis. Thirty-seven per cent of families reported that they
needed to borrow money because of the financial effects of the
child's illness. Bereaved parents spent an average of NZ$3065 (SD
NZ$2168) on funeral expenses.
Conclusion: There
is a large financial burden on families who have a child with
cancer.
