University Library
  • Login
A gateway to Melbourne's research publications
Minerva Access is the University's Institutional Repository. It aims to collect, preserve, and showcase the intellectual output of staff and students of the University of Melbourne for a global audience.
View Item 
  • Minerva Access
  • Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences
  • Melbourne Medical School
  • Medical Education
  • Medical Education - Research Publications
  • View Item
  • Minerva Access
  • Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences
  • Melbourne Medical School
  • Medical Education
  • Medical Education - Research Publications
  • View Item
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Discussing and prescribing expensive unfunded anticancer drugs in Australia

    Thumbnail
    Download
    published version (811.5Kb)

    Citations
    Scopus
    Web of Science
    Altmetric
    2
    2
    Author
    Karikios, DJ; Mileshkin, L; Martin, A; Ferraro, D; Stockler, MR
    Date
    2017-06-01
    Source Title
    ESMO Open
    Publisher
    BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP
    University of Melbourne Author/s
    Mileshkin, Linda; Ferraro, Danielle
    Affiliation
    Medical Education
    Surgery (RMH)
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Document Type
    Journal Article
    Citations
    Karikios, D. J., Mileshkin, L., Martin, A., Ferraro, D. & Stockler, M. R. (2017). Discussing and prescribing expensive unfunded anticancer drugs in Australia. ESMO OPEN, 2 (2), https://doi.org/10.1136/esmoopen-2017-000170.
    Access Status
    Open Access
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/11343/256650
    DOI
    10.1136/esmoopen-2017-000170
    Abstract
    OBJECTIVE: Australia has a publicly funded universal healthcare system which heavily subsidises the cost of most registered anticancer drugs. The use of anticancer drugs that are unfunded, that is, not subsidised by the government, entails substantial out-of-pocket costs for patients. We sought to determine how frequently Australian medical oncologists discuss and prescribe unfunded anticancer drugs, and their attitudes and beliefs about their use. METHODS: Members of the Medical Oncology Group of Australia (MOGA) completed an online survey about their clinical practices over a recent 3-month period. A negative binomial regression model was used to examine the influence of respondent characteristics on the rate of discussions about, and prescription of, unfunded anticancer drugs. RESULTS: Of the 154 respondents (27% of 575 MOGA members), 92% had discussed and 68% had prescribed at least one unfunded anticancer drug in the last 3 months. Respondents reported discussing unfunded anticancer drugs with an average of 2.5 patients per month (95% CI 2.1 to 2.9), and prescribed them to an average of 0.9 patients per month (95% CI 0.7 to 1.2). The rate of discussing unfunded anticancer drugs was associated with being fully qualified (p=0.01), and being in a metropolitan practice (p=0.009), the rate of prescription was associated only with being in metropolitan practice (p=0.006). The concerns about discussing and prescribing unfunded anticancer drugs rated most important were as follows: 'potential to cause financial hardship' and 'difficulty for patients to evaluate the benefits versus the costs'. CONCLUSIONS: Australian medical oncologists frequently discuss and prescribe unfunded anticancer drugs, and are concerned about their patients having to face difficult decisions and financial hardship. Further research is needed to better understand the factors that affect how oncologists and patients value expensive, unfunded anticancer drugs.

    Export Reference in RIS Format     

    Endnote

    • Click on "Export Reference in RIS Format" and choose "open with... Endnote".

    Refworks

    • Click on "Export Reference in RIS Format". Login to Refworks, go to References => Import References


    Collections
    • Minerva Elements Records [52443]
    • Surgery (RMH) - Research Publications [348]
    • Medical Education - Research Publications [594]
    Minerva AccessDepositing Your Work (for University of Melbourne Staff and Students)NewsFAQs

    BrowseCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects
    My AccountLoginRegister
    StatisticsMost Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors