Authors:
Anna Amela Valsecchi, Pamela Festa, […], and Massimo Di Maio +9 (View all authors)
Abstract
The PROFFIT questionnaire was previously developed and validated, to assess financial toxicity (FT) in Italian patients with cancer. Here we describe FT in patients treated in a public Italian institution in 2024, with a focus on potential determinants of the problem.
PROFFIT was administered cross-sectionally to outpatients undergoing cancer therapy at AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin. Analysis was descriptive. Multivariate analysis explored association between clinical/demographic features, PROFFIT determinants and PROFFIT score.
From October 2024 to December 2024, 359 patients filled in PROFFIT. Median PROFFIT score (0-100 scale) was 33.3 (IQR 14.3–52.4). One hundred and twenty five patients (35%) declared that illness reduced their financial resources. One hundred and three patients (29%) felt that their economic situation affects the possibility of receiving medical care; 124 (35%) felt that National Health Service does not cover all disease costs; 162 (46%) declared payments for private medical exams, 204 (56%) for additional medicines/supplements, 144 (40%) for additional treatments. PROFFIT score was significantly higher in younger patients, in those with worse educational level, in divorced/unmarried patients, in those with economically dependent family members, and in unemployed patients. PROFFIT score was higher for patients with a longer distance to travel to the hospital, although it was not statistically significant. At multivariate analysis, characteristics associated with PROFFIT score were educational level, economically dependent family members, employment status and time from diagnosis; PROFFIT determinants associated with PROFFIT score were payments for additional medicines, payments for additional treatments and travel expenses.
Even within the Italian public health system, FT is not negligible among patients with cancer.