Financial Assistance for Patients Who Relocate for Specialist Care in Hematology: Practical Findings to Inform Nursing Supportive Care.
OBJECTIVE
This article examines findings on the need for, awareness of, and critical time for referral to financial assistance for patients who have to relocate for specialist care for hematological malignancies.


METHODS
The study involved descriptive qualitative research based on in-depth interviews that were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded, and thematically analyzed.


METHODS
Forty-five hematology patients purposively selected from the client database of the Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland were interviewed for the study.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings indicate that there is a critical period at the initial point of diagnosis and start of treatment when patients are experiencing shock, confusion, and a sense of being overwhelmed by stress, fear, and uncertainty about the future. The stress can be exacerbated by the loss of work and a period of waiting to access income (e.g., from superannuation or approval to receive a pension). For some patients, this is a critical period when individuals need support and advice to avoid long-term financial problems. However, at this point in time, many individuals do not know how to access financial advice or assistance from leading cancer supportive care organizations. The findings have practical implications to inform the work by many nurses who provide psychosocial care to hematology patients.
Pam McGrath, BSocWk, MA, PhD, is, Associate Professor and Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Community Science, Griffith University, Meadowbrook Qld, Queensland, Australia.
Pam
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McGrath
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards*; D006405:Hematology; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000191:economics / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011793:Queensland; D013038:Specialization / Q000639:trends*; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000379:methods*; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult
Cancer; financial assistance; hematology; nursing supportive care; qualitative research; relocation