Financial Distress and Its Associations With Physical and Emotional Symptoms and Quality of Life Among XXXX @entity1 .

@entity1 @entity308 @entity5 @entity147 @entity2673 @entity148
OBJECTIVE: There are limited data on the effects of @entity147 ( @entity147 ) on overall suffering and quality of life (QOL) of @entity1 with @entity5 ( @entity5 ). In this cross-sectional study, we examined the frequency of @entity147 and its correlates in @entity5 . @entity1 AND METHODS: We interviewed 149 @entity1 , 77 at a comprehensive @entity5 center (CCC) and 72 at a general public hospital (GPH). @entity5 completed a self-rated @entity147 (subjective experience of distress attributed to financial problems) numeric rating scale (0 = best, 10 = worst) and validated questionnaires assessing symptoms (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System [ESAS]), @entity2673 ( @entity148 and @entity308 Scale [HADS]), and QOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General [FACT-G]). RESULTS: The @entity1 ' median age was 60 years (95% confidence interval [CI]: 58.6-61.5 years); 74 (50%) were female; 48 of 77 at CCC (62%) versus 13 of 72 at GPH (18%) were white; 21 of 77 (27%) versus 32 of 72 (38%) at CCC and GPH, respectively, were black; and 7 of 77 (9%) versus 27 of 72 (38%) at CCC and GPH, respectively, were Hispanic (p < .0001). @entity147 was present in 65 of 75 at CCC (86%; 95% CI: 76%-93%) versus 65 of 72 at GPH (90%; 95% CI: 81%-96%; p = .45). The median intensity of @entity147 at CCC and GPH was 4 (interquartile range [IQR]: 1-7) versus 8 (IQR: 3-10), respectively (p = .0003). @entity147 was reported as more severe than physical distress, distress about physical functioning, social/family distress, and @entity147 by 45 (30%), 46 (31%), 64 (43%), and 55 (37%) @entity5 , respectively (all significantly worse for @entity1 at GPH) (p < .05). @entity5 reported that @entity147 was affecting their general well-being (0 = not at all, 10 = very much) with a median score of 5 (IQR: 1-8). @entity147 correlated (Spearman correlation) with FACT-G (r = -0.23, p = .0057); HADS- @entity148 (r = .27, p = .0014), ESAS- @entity148 (r = .2, p = .0151), and ESAS- @entity308 (r = .18, p = .0336). CONCLUSION: @entity147 was very frequent in both groups, but median intensity was double among GPH @entity1 . More than 30% of @entity5 rated @entity147 to be more severe than physical, family, and @entity147 . More research is needed to better characterize @entity147 and its correlates in @entity5 and possible interventions. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Financial distress is an important and common factor contributing to the suffering of @entity5 @entity1 and their caregivers. It should be suspected in @entity1 with persistent, refractory symptom expression. Early identification, measurement, and documentation will allow clinical teams to develop interventions to improve @entity147 and its impact on quality of life of @entity5 @entity1 .
