Research Information System
Supportive Care in Cancer, vol.31, no.2, 2023 (SCI-Expanded)
© 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.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.