Role of financial toxicity, psychological distress, and perceived social support on satisfaction of life among patients diagnosed with cancer in Pakistan

Title : Role of financial toxicity, psychological distress, and perceived social support on satisfaction of life among patients diagnosed with cancer in Pakistan

Abstract:

Purpose: To investigates the impact of financial toxicity and psychological distress on life satisfaction among cancer patients, with a specific focus on the mediating role of perceived social support.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad, targeting cancer patients undergoing treatment. A total of 384 participants were recruited through self-administered questionnaires. Inclusion criteria required patients to have a confirmed cancer diagnosis, while those who were critically ill or cognitively impaired were excluded. Data analysis incorporated ANOVA, correlation, and multivariate regression techniques to evaluate the impact of financial toxicity, psychological distress, and perceived social support on life satisfaction using SPSS version 26.

Results: Life satisfaction showed no significant variation across most socio-demographic variables, except for work experience (p = 0.008). Significant inverse correlations emerged between life satisfaction and financial toxicity (r = -0.169) as well as psychological distress (r = -0.418). Conversely, perceived social support exhibited a strong positive association with life satisfaction (r = 0.404). Regression analysis confirmed the negative impact of psychological distress (β = -0.404) and financial toxicity (β = -0.124) on life satisfaction. Notably, psychological distress partially mediated the relationship between financial toxicity and life satisfaction.

Conclusion: Financial toxicity and psychological distress reduce cancer patients' life satisfaction, while social support buffers these effects, highlighting the need for holistic, patient-centered care and further research.

Biography:

Muhammad Hammad is a clinical research professional with extensive experience in clinical trial management, data coordination, and regulatory compliance. He is currently working as a Senior Research Specialist and Data Coordinator at Metrics Research, where he ensures adherence to GCP guidelines, protocol compliance, and data quality across multiple studies. Previously, he served as a Clinical Research Associate at DRK Pharma Solutions, managing Phase-3 clinical trials. He holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, where he was awarded the Dean’s Scholarship for academic excellence. He has several international publications and has presented his research at global conferences in the UK, Mozambique, and Indonesia. His passion lies in promoting ethical and evidence-based clinical research.