Economic effects of childhood cancer on families.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the financial impact of childhood cancer on families.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional survey of parents caring for children who were diagnosed with cancer during the period 1990-1993. 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.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a large financial burden on families who have a child with cancer.
Dockerty
J D
JD
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 213, Dunedin, New Zealand. john.dockerty@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Skegg
D C G
DC
Williams
S M
SM
D000293:Adolescent; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires