{"title":"Methodologies and characteristics of studies investigating the cost of the palliative phase of cancer: a systematic review.","authors":"Kevin Chechirlian, Maxime Messin, Raphaelle Habert Dantigny, Guillaume Economos, Caroline Tête, Elise Perceau-Chambard, Fiona Ecarnot, Eduardo Bruera, Stéphane Sanchez, Cecile Barbaret","doi":"10.1007/s00520-025-09150-0","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Improvements in the treatment of advanced cancer have increased life expectancy but have also increased the costs to healthcare systems, patients and their families. A systematic review is needed to summarize research work on the cost of cancer. The primary objective was to describe the characteristics and methodology of studies investigating the cost of cancer during the palliative phase. Secondary objectives were to assess whether palliative care interventions influence the costs of advanced cancer and to describe the costs explored and models used in cost-effectiveness studies.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>According to the PRISMA guideline (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses), Pubmed, Web of Science, NHS, EconLit and Google Scholar databases were screened from 11/01/2020 to 03/01/2024. All types of methods about the costs of the palliative phase of solid cancer were accepted. Study characteristics, economic perspective, time horizon and the type of costs explored were collected.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 498 studies identified, 66 were included in the final analysis. Most (60%) used a retrospective methodology. Almost all (65, 98%) studied direct costs, and only 12 (18%) studied indirect costs. No article assessed intangible costs or the total cost of the palliative phase of cancer. The payer's perspective was most commonly adopted (39, 59%). The time horizon was less than 6 months in most cases (41, 63%). Eighteen studies (86%) highlighted that PC interventions were cost-effective.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Existing evidence suggests that palliative care is cost-effective from the hospital and payer's perspective. More research is needed to evaluate the cost of informal caregiving and out-of-pocket expenses borne by patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":22046,"journal":{"name":"Supportive Care in Cancer","volume":"33 2","pages":"126"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Supportive Care in Cancer","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-025-09150-0","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose: Improvements in the treatment of advanced cancer have increased life expectancy but have also increased the costs to healthcare systems, patients and their families. A systematic review is needed to summarize research work on the cost of cancer. The primary objective was to describe the characteristics and methodology of studies investigating the cost of cancer during the palliative phase. Secondary objectives were to assess whether palliative care interventions influence the costs of advanced cancer and to describe the costs explored and models used in cost-effectiveness studies.
Method: According to the PRISMA guideline (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses), Pubmed, Web of Science, NHS, EconLit and Google Scholar databases were screened from 11/01/2020 to 03/01/2024. All types of methods about the costs of the palliative phase of solid cancer were accepted. Study characteristics, economic perspective, time horizon and the type of costs explored were collected.
Results: Of the 498 studies identified, 66 were included in the final analysis. Most (60%) used a retrospective methodology. Almost all (65, 98%) studied direct costs, and only 12 (18%) studied indirect costs. No article assessed intangible costs or the total cost of the palliative phase of cancer. The payer's perspective was most commonly adopted (39, 59%). The time horizon was less than 6 months in most cases (41, 63%). Eighteen studies (86%) highlighted that PC interventions were cost-effective.
Conclusion: Existing evidence suggests that palliative care is cost-effective from the hospital and payer's perspective. More research is needed to evaluate the cost of informal caregiving and out-of-pocket expenses borne by patients.
期刊介绍:
Supportive Care in Cancer provides members of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) and all other interested individuals, groups and institutions with the most recent scientific and social information on all aspects of supportive care in cancer patients. It covers primarily medical, technical and surgical topics concerning supportive therapy and care which may supplement or substitute basic cancer treatment at all stages of the disease.
Nursing, rehabilitative, psychosocial and spiritual issues of support are also included.