Financial toxicity in people with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis treatment.
Emanuele Cristina de Sousa Silva, Maria de Fátima Mantovani, Luciana de Alcantara Nogueira and 3 others
PMID 37672464WHAT IT FOUND
Financial toxicity was common among people on hemodialysis, especially women and those with low family income.
Nurses can ask about costs, transportation, food and housing.
Key findings
01Of 214 participants, 71% had some degree of financial toxicity: 102 mild, 50 moderate, one high, and 61 none.
02Women and people receiving up to two minimum wages monthly were more likely to have some degree of financial toxicity.
03The mean COST score was 20.30 on a 0 to 44 scale, where higher scores mean better financial well-being and lower financial toxicity.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was recruited by convenience from four dialysis units in one Brazilian region, so it may not represent all people receiving hemodialysis. The study was cross-sectional, so it measured financial toxicity and associations at one time point and cannot show that financial problems caused missed treatment, worse health or hospitalization. Participants with recorded communication difficulties or mental limitations were excluded, so people who may have more difficulty reporting financial strain were not included. The COST questionnaire was used in people with chronic kidney disease, but the study did not test whether using it in care improves financial or health outcomes.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that financial toxicity caused missed dialysis, worse clinical status or more hospitalizations. This was a cross-sectional survey, so it measured financial toxicity and associations at one time point, not cause and effect.