The economic costs of unpaid cancer caregiving: A qualitative study
- Author(s)
- Platts, CM; Collins, A; Schilling, C; Le, B; McLachlan, SA; Dillon, L; Chandler, S; Maher, T; Gardiner, C; Philip, J;
- Journal Title
- Palliative Medicine
- Publication Type
- Online publication before print
- Abstract
- BACKGROUND: Unpaid caregivers play a crucial role in providing care for people with life-limiting illnesses such as cancer, yet their economic contributions are rarely recognised in economic evaluations, leaving caregivers to shoulder significant direct and indirect costs. AIM: To explore the direct and indirect costs experienced by unpaid caregivers of people with cancer receiving palliative care. DESIGN: A qualitative study underpinned by a social constructivist framework, reported in line with COREQ and RTARG guidelines. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with unpaid caregivers to capture their lived experiences of caregiving costs. Thematic analysis was employed. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: The study was conducted at a single tertiary hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Eleven caregivers (43-87 years; mean 64 years) participated, including spouses, children, and parents of cancer patients who had accessed palliative care. RESULTS: Caregivers reported a wide range of direct costs, including food, equipment, medications, transportation, insurance, and home modifications. Indirect costs emerged as equally burdensome, including time spent on personal care, care-coordination, employment disruption, and loss of leisure. These burdens frequently extended beyond the caregiving period, undermining economic security and long-term wellbeing. CONCLUSIONS: Caregiving imposes substantial and enduring direct and indirect costs that are rarely measured or recognised in decisions made around health systems. Findings highlight the need for a validated tool to capture the full cost of caregiving, to guide equitable comprehensive economic evaluation.
- Keywords
- caregivers; costs and cost analysis; economics; medical; neoplasms; palliative care; qualitative research
- Department(s)
- Palliative Care
- Publisher's Version
- https://doi.org/10.1177/02692163261478444
- Open Access at Publisher's Site
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Creation Date: 2026-09-14 05:56:12
Last Modified: 2026-09-14 05:56:18