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

^ΔCHF (24)

9

15

16

8

^ΔCOPD (23)

10

11

17

4

^ΔDiabetes (35)

14

14

21

7

Co-morbidity (49)

16

22

28

10

Female (37)

16

15

23

8

Male (29)

12

14

19

7

^ΦOn 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

Jeon et al. BMC Health Services Research 2009 9:182   doi:10.1186/1472-6963-9-182