Complementary medicine use and costs in patients with breast cancer who experienced treatment-related side effects: A cross-sectional survey in Korea. (June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Han, Sola; Jang, Bo-Hyoung; Suh, Hae Sun; Hwang, Deok-Sang
• Is Part Of: Complementary therapies in medicine. Volume 44(2019)
• Page Start: 210
• Page End: 217
• Publication Date: 2019-06
• Subjects: Breast cancer -- Drug-related side effects and adverse reactions -- Cost of illness -- Complementary medicine -- Survey -- Productivity; Alternative medicine -- Periodicals; Complementary Therapies -- Periodicals; Médecines parallèles -- Périodiques; Thérapeutique -- Périodiques; Alternative medicine; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 615.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2019.04.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0965-2299

Abstract

Highlights: Treatment-related side effects affect the patients' life in many ways. This study aims to investigate the economic impact of treatment-related side effects. Patients reported substantial economic burden of using complementary medicine and productivity loss due to treatment-related side effects. Strategies for guiding patients to receive evidence-based and cost-effective complementary medicine are needed. Abstract: Objectives: Population-based information on the costs of complementary medicine for treatment-related side effects in patients with breast cancer is scarce. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and expenditure on complementary medicine in patients with breast cancer who experienced treatment-related side effects. Design and setting: Two datasets were analyzed: 1) a 2017 survey on direct and indirect costs for treatment-related side effects, which was completed by 100 patients with stage 0-IV breast cancer, and 2) a Korean representative cross-sectional survey (Patient Survey 2014) that examined the prevalence of integrative medicine in 41 patients with breast cancer. Main outcome measures: The direct and indirect costs for treatment-related side effects. Results: In the first dataset, the mean total direct medical cost for complementary medicine was US$1, 584 and the mean indirect cost was US$6, 988 per patient per year. Some patients (6%) visited non-medical institutions to utilize complementary medicine and additionally spent US$460 per patient per year. Approximately one-third of participants reported a substantial-to-heavy financial burden for using complementary medicine. However, only 17% of patients got information about complementary medicine through their physician. In the second dataset, 49% of patients with breast cancer who were discharged from Korean Medicine hospitals in Patient Survey 2014 data indicated that integrative medicine had been used. Conclusions: Despite some complementary medicine could be reimbursed by National Health Insurance in Korea, a considerable number of patients reported an economic burden associated with their use of complementary medicine. Strategies for guiding patients to receive evidence-based and cost-effective complementary medicine are needed.