Treatment burden among people with chronic illness: what are consumer health organizations saying?

Adem Sav, Sara S. McMillan, Fiona Kelly, Elizabeth Kendall, Jennifer A. Whitty, Michelle A. King, Amanda J. Wheeler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the perspectives of consumer health organizations about the burden of
chronic illness and multiple treatment regimens experienced by the consumers they represent.
Methods: In-depth interviews (n ¼ 15) were conducted with senior representatives from peak
Australian consumer health organizations representing diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular disease,
cancer, musculoskeletal illness and mental health.
Results: Medication burden, which included aspects such as multiple medications, side effects,
stigma and adverse events resulting from medication use, emerged as the most significant and
prevalent theme. Carer burden and the negative impact of financial burden was widely discussed,
particularly for low-income earners with claims that these consumers were forced to prioritise
medications according to how effective they perceived them to be. Time taken to learn about
treatment, administer, and monitor or travel to obtain treatment also emerged as being
burdensome, however, difficulty accessing treatment was considered to be particularly burdensome.
The disjointed nature of care among healthcare services was thought to create a sense of
confusion and distress.
Discussion: Many of the issues discussed by participants corroborated existing research,
underscoring the complementary provider, and advocacy role of these organisations in mitigating
treatment burden for people with chronic illness.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)220-232
Number of pages13
JournalChronic Illness
Volume9
Issue number3
Early online date23 Oct 2012
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2013

Keywords

  • Treatment burden
  • consumer health organization
  • chronic illness

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