ArticlePloS one2020
Patient-physician communication about financial problems: A cross-sectional study among over-indebted individuals.
Article in PloS one, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.
- Navigating infant food insecurity: low-income parents infant feeding intentions and practices in the UK.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Understanding the role of financial health literacy in midlife and old age: A scoping review.Health & social care in the community · 2022Article
- Interprofessional collaboration to support patients with social problems in general practice-a qualitative focus group study.BMC primary care · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
10 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAbout every tenth household across Europe is unable to meet payment obligations and living expenses on an ongoing basis and is thus considered over-indebted. Previous research suggests that over-indebtedness reflects a potential cause and consequence of psychosomatic health problems and limited access to care. However, it is unclear whether those affected discuss their financial problems with general practitioners. Therefore, this study examined patient-physician communication about financial problems in general practice among over-indebted individuals.
methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey among clients of 70 debt advice agencies in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, in 2017. We assessed the prevalence of patient-physician communication about financial problems and its association with patient characteristics using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. Of 699 individuals who returned the questionnaire (response rate:50.2%), we included 598 respondents enrolled in statutory health insurance with complete outcome data in the analyses.
resultsConversations about financial problems with general practitioners were reported by 22.6% (n = 135) of respondents. Individuals with a high educational level were less likely to report such conversations than those with medium educational level (aOR 0.11; 95%CI 0.01-0.83) after adjustment for other sociodemographic characteristics, health status and measures of financial distress. Those without a migrant background(aOR 2.09; 95%CI 1.32-3.32), the chronically ill(aOR 1.90; 95%CI 1.16-3.13) and individuals who reported high financial distress(aOR 2.15; 95%CI 1.22-3.78) and cutting on necessities to pay for medications(aOR 1.86; 95%CI 1.12-3.09) were more likely to discuss financial problems than their counterparts.
conclusionsFew over-indebted individuals discussed financial problems with their general practitioner. Patients' health status, coping strategies and perception of financial distress might contribute to variations in disclosure of financial problems. Thus, enhancing communication and screening by routine assessment of financial problems in clinical practice can help to identify vulnerable patients and promote access to health care and social services and well-being for all.
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