Table 3.

Suggestions for future research

Descriptive studies

How do direct disease-related costs impact perception of economic hardship?

How does perceived economic hardship influence patient adherence to treatment regimens?

Does perception of economic hardship differ in persons with other types of cancer?

Does length of time of perceived economic hardship influence impact on emotional health?

Does number and age of children influence the perception of economic hardship? Does this affect caregiver emotional health?

How does perceived economic hardship influence patient outcomes (e.g., symptom severity, quality of life?

How does caregiver perception of economic hardship change after the care situation is over?

Interventional studies

Financial planning assistance at the time of patient’s diagnosis.

How could this assistance affect perceptions of economic hardship throughout the disease trajectory?

How could this assistance improve caregivers’ emotional health?

Is it financially and clinically feasible to offer financial planning assistance?

Would psychosocial counseling with family caregivers reduce the impact of economic hardship on emotional health?

What would the impact of a public education intervention regarding health insurance options have on the perceived economic hardship of caregivers of persons with chronic diseases?