Work

Assessing the Unmet Social Needs and Financial Hardship of Cancer Caregivers: A Scoping Review

Year: 2025

Type: review

Abstract: PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The objective of this scoping review was to characterize published literature on unmet social needs and financial hardship among cancer caregivers. We sought to describe study attributes; assess the associations of needs with physical and psychosocial outcomes; identify tools to measure caregiver social needs and financial hardship; and examine needs-related interventions for caregivers. RECENT FINDINGS: Thirty-five articles were included in the review, most of which (60%) were published in the past three years (2022-2024). Financial hardship was addressed in nearly all of the included studies. There was a range of measurement tools used across the studies, and 37% of studies assessed social needs/financial hardship as part of a measure of caregiver burden. Most studies (92%) were cross-sectional and did not include a theoretical framework (59%), with only one study describing a caregiver-focused intervention. Most qualitative studies (n = 4/5) captured the interconnection among social needs. There is limited exploration of unmet social needs and financial hardship among cancer caregivers. Review findings demonstrate the need for increased research, both descriptive and interventional, on the social needs and financial hardship of cancer caregivers.

Source: Current Oncology Reports

DOI: 10.1007/s11912-025-01726-7

Authors: Bridgette Thom, Stephany Morales Melendez, Greg Seltzer, Brianna Connelly, Tess Thompson

Institutions: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Language: English

Topic: Economic and Financial Impacts of Cancer

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,090