• Andrew Searles, Evan Doran, Thomas A Faunce, and David Henry.
• Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, Hunter Valley Research Foundation, Australia. andrew.searles@castle.edu.au
• Aust Health Rev. 2013 Feb 1; 37 (1): 32-40.

ObjectiveTo create and report survey-based indicators of the affordability of prescription medicines for patients in Australia.MethodA cross-sectional study of 1502 randomly selected participants in the Hunter Region of NSW, were interviewed by telephone.Main Outcome MeasureThe self-reported financial burden of obtaining prescription medicines.ResultsData collection was completed with a response rate of 59.0%. Participants who had received and filled at least one prescription medicine in the previous 3 months, and eligible for analysis (n=952), were asked to self-report the level of financial burden from obtaining these medicines. Extreme and heavy financial burdens were reported by 2.1% and 6.8% of participants, respectively. A moderate level of burden was experienced by a further 19.5%. Low burden was recorded for participants who said that their prescription medicines presented either a slight burden (29.0%) or were no burden at all (42.6%).ConclusionA substantial minority of participants who had obtained prescription medicines in the 3 months prior to survey experienced a level of financial burden from the cost of these medicines that was reported as being moderate to extreme.

24 keywords...

hide…