Financial toxicity of childhood cancer and changes to parents’ employment after treatment completion

Kelada, L; Wakefield, CE; Vetsch, J; Schofield, D; Sansom-Daly, UM; Hetherington, K; O’Brien, T; Cohn, RJ; Anazodo, A; Viney, R; Zeppel, MJB

Financial toxicity of childhood cancer and changes to parents’ employment after treatment completion

Kelada, L Wakefield, CE Vetsch, J Schofield, D Sansom-Daly, UM Hetherington, K O’Brien, T Cohn, RJ Anazodo, A Viney, R

Zeppel, MJB

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Publisher:: Wiley
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Pediatric Blood and Cancer, 2020, 67, (7), pp. e28345
Issue Date:: 2020

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Kelada, L
dc.contributor.author	Wakefield, CE
dc.contributor.author	Vetsch, J
dc.contributor.author	Schofield, D
dc.contributor.author	Sansom-Daly, UM
dc.contributor.author	Hetherington, K
dc.contributor.author	O’Brien, T
dc.contributor.author	Cohn, RJ
dc.contributor.author	Anazodo, A
dc.contributor.author	Viney, R https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0039-9635
dc.contributor.author	Zeppel, MJB
dc.date.accessioned	2020-10-02T22:47:20Z
dc.date.available	2020-04-02
dc.date.available	2020-10-02T22:47:20Z
dc.date.issued	2020
dc.identifier.citation	Pediatric Blood and Cancer, 2020, 67, (7), pp. e28345
dc.identifier.issn	0098-1532
dc.identifier.issn	1545-5017
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/143038
dc.description.abstract	Objective Childhood cancer can have short‐ and long‐term impacts on parents’ finances and employment. It is important to understand how families adjust to the financial and employment changes caused by childhood cancer, the ongoing impacts after treatment completion, and which families need more targeted support. Qualitative research is necessary to facilitate an in‐depth understanding of the employment and financial impacts on families and to capture parents’ complex and nuanced experiences and perspectives. Methods We interviewed 56 parents of childhood cancer survivors (M = 2.13 years after treatment completion; 89% mothers) using the vocational and financial impact section of the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale–Carer Interview Form. We analyzed interviews using content analysis. Results Parents reported multiple sources of financial toxicity including travel to and from the hospital and needing to reduce their working hours during their child's cancer treatment. Workplace flexibility was an important factor to protect against unwanted vocational changes. After treatment completion, families living in low socioeconomic areas commonly reported ongoing financial difficulties. Mothers, particularly those who were on maternity leave when their child was diagnosed with cancer, reported ongoing employment impacts including unemployment. Conclusions Clinical staff including social workers could more consistently assess families’ financial distress and refer to professional services who can offer guidance for financial decision‐making as standard care. Flexible workplace agreements appear important for parents of children with cancer. Our findings can assist organizations to understand that cancer‐related disruptions are likely to continue after treatment completion, and therefore should offer benefits to parents where possible.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Wiley
dc.relation	Cancer Australia
dc.relation.ispartof	Pediatric Blood and Cancer
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1002/pbc.28345
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1103 Clinical Sciences, 1112 Oncology and Carcinogenesis, 1114 Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine
dc.subject.classification	Oncology & Carcinogenesis
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Neoplasms
dc.subject.mesh	Prognosis
dc.subject.mesh	Retrospective Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Follow-Up Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Parents
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Cost of Illness
dc.subject.mesh	Socioeconomic Factors
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged
dc.subject.mesh	Child
dc.subject.mesh	Child, Preschool
dc.subject.mesh	Employment
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Young Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Return to Work
dc.subject.mesh	Conflict, Psychological
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Child
dc.subject.mesh	Child, Preschool
dc.subject.mesh	Conflict, Psychological
dc.subject.mesh	Cost of Illness
dc.subject.mesh	Employment
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Follow-Up Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged
dc.subject.mesh	Neoplasms
dc.subject.mesh	Parents
dc.subject.mesh	Prognosis
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Retrospective Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Return to Work
dc.subject.mesh	Socioeconomic Factors
dc.subject.mesh	Young Adult
dc.title	Financial toxicity of childhood cancer and changes to parents’ employment after treatment completion
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	67
utslib.location.activity	United States
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences
utslib.for	1112 Oncology and Carcinogenesis
utslib.for	1114 Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Business
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHERE - Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2020-10-02T22:46:54Z
pubs.issue	7
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	67
utslib.start-page	e28345
utslib.citation.issue	7

Abstract:

Objective Childhood cancer can have short‐ and long‐term impacts on parents’ finances and employment. It is important to understand how families adjust to the financial and employment changes caused by childhood cancer, the ongoing impacts after treatment completion, and which families need more targeted support. Qualitative research is necessary to facilitate an in‐depth understanding of the employment and financial impacts on families and to capture parents’ complex and nuanced experiences and perspectives. Methods We interviewed 56 parents of childhood cancer survivors (M = 2.13 years after treatment completion; 89% mothers) using the vocational and financial impact section of the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale–Carer Interview Form. We analyzed interviews using content analysis. Results Parents reported multiple sources of financial toxicity including travel to and from the hospital and needing to reduce their working hours during their child's cancer treatment. Workplace flexibility was an important factor to protect against unwanted vocational changes. After treatment completion, families living in low socioeconomic areas commonly reported ongoing financial difficulties. Mothers, particularly those who were on maternity leave when their child was diagnosed with cancer, reported ongoing employment impacts including unemployment. Conclusions Clinical staff including social workers could more consistently assess families’ financial distress and refer to professional services who can offer guidance for financial decision‐making as standard care. Flexible workplace agreements appear important for parents of children with cancer. Our findings can assist organizations to understand that cancer‐related disruptions are likely to continue after treatment completion, and therefore should offer benefits to parents where possible.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/143038