Lymphedema self-care: economic cost savings and opportunities to improve adherence
Abstract Background Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) imposes a significant economic burden on patients, providers, and society. There is no curative therapy for BCRL, but management through self-care can reduce symptoms and lower the risk of adverse events. Main body The economic burden of BC...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12962-023-00455-7 |
| _version_ | 1797769501510467584 |
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| author | Pinar Karaca-Mandic Craig A. Solid Jane M. Armer Roman Skoracki Elizabeth Campione Stanley G. Rockson |
| author_facet | Pinar Karaca-Mandic Craig A. Solid Jane M. Armer Roman Skoracki Elizabeth Campione Stanley G. Rockson |
| author_sort | Pinar Karaca-Mandic |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) imposes a significant economic burden on patients, providers, and society. There is no curative therapy for BCRL, but management through self-care can reduce symptoms and lower the risk of adverse events. Main body The economic burden of BCRL stems from related adverse events, reductions in productivity and employment, and the burden placed on non-medical caregivers. Self-care regimens often include manual lymphatic drainage, compression garments, and meticulous skin care, and may incorporate pneumatic compression devices. These regimens can be effective in managing BCRL, but patients cite inconvenience and interference with daily activities as potential barriers to self-care adherence. As a result, adherence is generally poor and often worsens with time. Because self-care is on-going, poor adherence reduces the effectiveness of regimens and leads to costly treatment of BCRL complications. Conclusion Novel self-care solutions that are more convenient and that interfere less with daily activities could increase self-care adherence and ultimately reduce complication-related costs of BCRL. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:08:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5df4249a11c74351bf76efe302b7d6a3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1478-7547 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:08:57Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation |
| spelling | doaj.art-5df4249a11c74351bf76efe302b7d6a32023-07-30T11:16:27ZengBMCCost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation1478-75472023-07-012111410.1186/s12962-023-00455-7Lymphedema self-care: economic cost savings and opportunities to improve adherencePinar Karaca-Mandic0Craig A. Solid1Jane M. Armer2Roman Skoracki3Elizabeth Campione4Stanley G. Rockson5Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, Carlson School of ManagementSolid Research GroupUniversity of Missouri Sinclair School of NursingJames Cancer Treatment and Research Center, Ohio State UniversityPhysical Therapy Program, Midwestern UniversityStanford Center for Lymphatic and Venous Disorders, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of MedicineAbstract Background Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) imposes a significant economic burden on patients, providers, and society. There is no curative therapy for BCRL, but management through self-care can reduce symptoms and lower the risk of adverse events. Main body The economic burden of BCRL stems from related adverse events, reductions in productivity and employment, and the burden placed on non-medical caregivers. Self-care regimens often include manual lymphatic drainage, compression garments, and meticulous skin care, and may incorporate pneumatic compression devices. These regimens can be effective in managing BCRL, but patients cite inconvenience and interference with daily activities as potential barriers to self-care adherence. As a result, adherence is generally poor and often worsens with time. Because self-care is on-going, poor adherence reduces the effectiveness of regimens and leads to costly treatment of BCRL complications. Conclusion Novel self-care solutions that are more convenient and that interfere less with daily activities could increase self-care adherence and ultimately reduce complication-related costs of BCRL.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12962-023-00455-7Breast cancer-related lymphedemaEconomic burdenCancer survivorsQuality of lifeSelf-careEconomic benefit |
| spellingShingle | Pinar Karaca-Mandic Craig A. Solid Jane M. Armer Roman Skoracki Elizabeth Campione Stanley G. Rockson Lymphedema self-care: economic cost savings and opportunities to improve adherence Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation Breast cancer-related lymphedema Economic burden Cancer survivors Quality of life Self-care Economic benefit |
| title | Lymphedema self-care: economic cost savings and opportunities to improve adherence |
| title_full | Lymphedema self-care: economic cost savings and opportunities to improve adherence |
| title_fullStr | Lymphedema self-care: economic cost savings and opportunities to improve adherence |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lymphedema self-care: economic cost savings and opportunities to improve adherence |
| title_short | Lymphedema self-care: economic cost savings and opportunities to improve adherence |
| title_sort | lymphedema self care economic cost savings and opportunities to improve adherence |
| topic | Breast cancer-related lymphedema Economic burden Cancer survivors Quality of life Self-care Economic benefit |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12962-023-00455-7 |
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