{"title":"Financial burden of lymphedema among breast cancer survivors in Iran: A qualitative study.","authors":"Hossein Yarmohammadi, Masood Soltanipur, Mohammad Shahrabi Farahani, Seyed Ehsan Hosseini, Zahra Sheikhi","doi":"10.1016/j.jdmv.2024.09.001","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a chronic complication of breast cancer that requires long-term management. This condition imposes significant disturbance on breast cancer survivors (BCSs) physically, emotionally, and, financially. The purpose of this study was to approach the financial burden of BCRL in Iran.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This qualitative study was performed based on the standards for reporting qualitative research (SRQR) guidelines. Semi-structured and in-depth interviews were conducted using a voice recorder. Data analysis was performed based on the content analysis method of Graneheim and Lundman. Nine women with BCRL participated in the study.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Three major themes were generated based on the captured data: (1) direct costs related to BCRL management, (2) indirect costs imposed by BCRL at work or home, and, (3) benefits of costs which was a great concern of BCSs that how much these costs eventually make their condition better. High costs of garments, lack of insurance coverage, and, difficulties in accessing lymphedema care were among the frequently mentioned problems by BCSs with BCRL.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The financial burden of BCRL is significant on BCSs in Iran. The establishment of insurance coverage policies, easier access to health services, and, implanting patient-centered measures in evidence-based lymphedema guidelines, could be proper interventions to lower the financial burden of BCRL.</p>","PeriodicalId":53149,"journal":{"name":"JMV-Journal de Medecine Vasculaire","volume":"49 5-6","pages":"203-210"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"JMV-Journal de Medecine Vasculaire","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmv.2024.09.001","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/9/19 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"Medicine","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a chronic complication of breast cancer that requires long-term management. This condition imposes significant disturbance on breast cancer survivors (BCSs) physically, emotionally, and, financially. The purpose of this study was to approach the financial burden of BCRL in Iran.
Methods: This qualitative study was performed based on the standards for reporting qualitative research (SRQR) guidelines. Semi-structured and in-depth interviews were conducted using a voice recorder. Data analysis was performed based on the content analysis method of Graneheim and Lundman. Nine women with BCRL participated in the study.
Results: Three major themes were generated based on the captured data: (1) direct costs related to BCRL management, (2) indirect costs imposed by BCRL at work or home, and, (3) benefits of costs which was a great concern of BCSs that how much these costs eventually make their condition better. High costs of garments, lack of insurance coverage, and, difficulties in accessing lymphedema care were among the frequently mentioned problems by BCSs with BCRL.
Conclusion: The financial burden of BCRL is significant on BCSs in Iran. The establishment of insurance coverage policies, easier access to health services, and, implanting patient-centered measures in evidence-based lymphedema guidelines, could be proper interventions to lower the financial burden of BCRL.
背景:乳腺癌相关淋巴水肿(BCRL)是一种需要长期治疗的乳腺癌慢性并发症。这种情况对乳腺癌幸存者(bcs)的身体、情感和经济造成了严重的困扰。本研究的目的是探讨BCRL在伊朗的经济负担。方法:本定性研究依据定性研究报告标准(SRQR)指南进行。使用录音机进行了半结构化和深度访谈。数据分析采用Graneheim and Lundman的内容分析法。9名患有BCRL的女性参与了这项研究。结果:基于捕获的数据产生了三个主要主题:(1)与BCRL管理相关的直接成本;(2)BCRL在工作或家庭中施加的间接成本;(3)成本效益,这是bcs非常关注的成本效益,这些成本最终使他们的状况更好。服装费用高、缺乏保险覆盖以及难以获得淋巴水肿护理是BCRL的bcs经常提到的问题。结论:BCRL对伊朗bcs的经济负担很大。建立保险覆盖政策,更容易获得卫生服务,以及在基于证据的淋巴水肿指南中植入以患者为中心的措施,可能是减轻BCRL经济负担的适当干预措施。
期刊介绍:
The JMV- Journal de Médecine Vasculaire publishes peer-reviewed clinical and research articles, epidemiological studies, review articles, editorials, guidelines. The journal also publishes abstracts of papers presented at the annual sessions of the national congress of French College of Vascular Pathology.