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Greater financial toxicity correlates with increased psychological distress and lower quality of life among Turkish cancer patients

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the factors that influence financial toxicity and its effects on both quality of life and psychological distress in Turkish cancer patients.

Methods

Data from 400 cancer patients receiving chemotherapy at a public university in Turkey was analyzed. The Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST), Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression and Anxiety (PHQ-4), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT‐G) were used to measure financial toxicity, psychological distress, and health quality of life, respectively.

Results

Patients’ median COST score was 22 (SD = 10.1; range: 1–44) and was consistent with mild financial toxicity. Financial toxicity was associated with lower education level (p < 0.001), lower monthly income (p < 0.001), being a woman (p = 0.021), living in another city (p = 0.012), and previous cancer surgery (p = 0.02). A negative and statistically significant correlation was found between financial toxicity and quality of life (r =  − 0.139; p = 0.005) and psychological distress (r =  − 0.398; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

This investigation demonstrated that financial toxicity was a significant determinant of quality of life and psychological distress.

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Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article or available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Code availability

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Oncology, Gazı University, Ankara, Turkey

    Kadriye Bir Yücel, Osman Sütcüoğlu, Ozan Yazıcı, Aytug Üner, Nazan Günel, Ahmet Özet, Gözde Savaş & Nuriye Özdemir

  2. Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey

    Zeynep Irem Özay

Authors
  1. Kadriye Bir Yücel
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  2. Zeynep Irem Özay
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  3. Osman Sütcüoğlu
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  4. Ozan Yazıcı
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Contributions

Analysis and investigation: Kadriye Bir Yücel and Zeynep İrem Özay. Writing—original draft preparation: Kadriye Bir Yücel. Writing—review and editing: Osman Sütcüoglu, Ozan Yazıcı, and Nuriye Ozdemir. Supervision: Nuriye Ozdemir, Aytug Uner, Nazan Gunel, Ahmet Özet, and Gözde Tahtacı. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kadriye Bir Yücel.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the joint Ethics Committee of Gazi University.

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Written informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Yücel, K.B., Özay, Z.I., Sütcüoğlu, O. et al. Greater financial toxicity correlates with increased psychological distress and lower quality of life among Turkish cancer patients. Support Care Cancer 31, 137 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-023-07586-w

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