<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Background: Despite the documentation of addressing healthcare disparities in detection and treatment of cancer and health outcomes for cancer patients, the inequalities persist. Cancer patients of several vulnerable groups suffer disproportionally the effect of economic crisis on health and healthcare.Patients &amp; Methods: A cross sectional survey was carried out between July and October 2014 in order to assess the cancer patients’ barriers to healthcare access. A total of 426 cancer patients, members of cancer patient organization participated in the study. Data were collected by using an online, self reported questionnaire evaluating three main areas: healthcare access (7 items), economic status and financial burden of the disease (17 items) and the alteration on several aspects related to the disease (8 items) from 2009 to 2014.Results: Approximately 31% of cancer patients reported that they faced barriers to healthcare access for cancer treatment during the last 12 months. The main barriers included long waiting time for a medical appointment (51%) and inability to visit a private physician due to the incapability to pay the out of pocket cost (44%). One in four patient encountered obstacles in medication access which resulted to treatment delay (46%), worsened health status (96%) and increased out of pocket costs (39%).Conclusions: Results suggest that there are vulnerable groups among cancer patients in Greece who suffer disproportionally more the impact of economic crisis on health and healthcare. Healthcare reforms and targeted interventions should be implemented in order to effectively address the inequities in access for cancer patients.</abstract>

Background: Despite the documentation of addressing healthcare disparities in detection and treatment of cancer and health outcomes for cancer patients, the inequalities persist. Cancer patients of several vulnerable groups suffer disproportionally the effect of economic crisis on health and healthcare.Patients & Methods: A cross sectional survey was carried out between July and October 2014 in order to assess the cancer patients’ barriers to healthcare access. A total of 426 cancer patients, members of cancer patient organization participated in the study. Data were collected by using an online, self reported questionnaire evaluating three main areas: healthcare access (7 items), economic status and financial burden of the disease (17 items) and the alteration on several aspects related to the disease (8 items) from 2009 to 2014.Results: Approximately 31% of cancer patients reported that they faced barriers to healthcare access for cancer treatment during the last 12 months. The main barriers included long waiting time for a medical appointment (51%) and inability to visit a private physician due to the incapability to pay the out of pocket cost (44%). One in four patient encountered obstacles in medication access which resulted to treatment delay (46%), worsened health status (96%) and increased out of pocket costs (39%).Conclusions: Results suggest that there are vulnerable groups among cancer patients in Greece who suffer disproportionally more the impact of economic crisis on health and healthcare. Healthcare reforms and targeted interventions should be implemented in order to effectively address the inequities in access for cancer patients.

Healthcare access for cancer patients in the era of economic crisis. Results from the HOPE III study

University of Peloponnese Corinth, GREECE

Forum of Clinical Oncology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Background: Despite the documentation of addressing healthcare disparities in detection and treatment of cancer and health outcomes for cancer patients, the...

Healthcare access for cancer patients in the era of economic crisis. Results from the HOPE III study

Publicado en línea: 31 mar 2016

Páginas: 7 - 11

Recibido: 22 oct 2015

Aceptado: 14 ene 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/fco-2015-0020

Palabras clave
Cancer patients, Healthcare access, Barriers, Financial crisis

© 2015 Kyriakos Souliotis et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Healthcare access for cancer patients in the era of economic crisis. Results from the HOPE III study

Publicado en línea: 31 mar 2016

Páginas: 7 - 11

Recibido: 22 oct 2015

Aceptado: 14 ene 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/fco-2015-0020

Palabras claveCancer patients, Healthcare access, Barriers, Financial crisis

© 2015 Kyriakos Souliotis et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Palabras clave
Cancer patients, Healthcare access, Barriers, Financial crisis