Financial toxicity and related factors: A cross-sectional study among family caregivers of cancer patients.

Abstract

To examine the relationships among financial toxicity, social support, general self-efficacy, and patients' socioeconomic status among family caregivers of cancer patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted (July-September 2024) with 210 family caregivers from a Chinese hospital. Socio-demographics and disease characteristics questionnaires were completed by each participant, the financial toxicity scale for cancer family caregivers, the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), the General Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Socioeconomic Status. Correlation and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed using SPSS 26.0. Caregivers reported substantial financial toxicity, with a mean score of 60.02 ± 10.45, approaching the upper limit of the scale (80 points). Regression analysis identified four key predictors: lower self-efficacy (β = -0.417, P < 0.001), catastrophic health expenditures (β = -0.231, P < 0.001), lack of commercial insurance (β = 0.127, P = 0.024), and reduced household income (β = -0.172, P = 0.002). Financial toxicity showed significant negative correlations with social support (r = -0.226), self-efficacy (r = -0.567), and patient socioeconomic status (r = -0.215) (all P < 0.01). Self-efficacy is a key modifiable factor in mitigating financial toxicity among cancer caregivers. Interventions should incorporate self-efficacy enhancement, insurance guidance, and income-protection strategies to reduce caregiver burden.