Economic hardship associated with managing chronic illness: a qualitative inquiry

Table 3 Participant characteristics and affordability issues

Characteristics (No of participants)	^αAffordability of treatment (n = 28)	^βAffordability of other things (n = 29)	*Any-affordability (n = 42)	^#Both-affordability (n = 15)
ACT (32)	17	13	22	8
Sydney West (34)	11	16	20	7
Indigenous Australians (7)	4	4	5	3
^§ CALD (14)	4	5	7	2
^Δ CHF (24)	9	15	16	8
^Δ COPD (23)	10	11	17	4
^Δ Diabetes (35)	14	14	21	7
Co-morbidity (49)	16	22	28	10
Female (37)	16	15	23	8
Male (29)	12	14	19	7
^Φ On Medication (58)	26	28	39	15
Not in paid employment^ (59)	25	26	38	13

^α Affordability of treatment included individuals' capacity to pay for medications, health check-ups, appointment with health professionals, other medical care expenses, etc.
^β Affordability of other things included individuals' capacity to pay for basic living expenses, healthy food, exercise and gym memberships, social activities and transport, etc.
* Participants who responded either in terms of affordability of 'treatment' or 'other things'
^# Participants who responded both in terms of affordability of 'treatment' and 'other things'
^§ Culturally & Linguistically Diverse background
^Δ Some participants have more than one index condition; the total is larger than the total sample size
^Φ Patients currently on medication for their chronic condition
^ Participants who were not in any form of paid employment at the time of the interview

ISSN: 1472-6963