1319 Nonmedical Out-Of-Pocket Expenses: A Hidden Consequence of Hospitalization

Purpose: To calculate the nonmedical out-of-pocketexpenses (NOOPEs) incurred by families during thehospitalization of their child following orthopaedicsurgical interventions. Background: In today's healthcare climate, increased attention is being paid to the availability, affordability, and adequacy of healthcareinsurance needed to cover necessary healthcareexpenditures. Virtually, no public or private healthplan covers the entire array of health care costs. Little attention has been placed on the magnitudeNOOPES to families. NOOPEs include costs thatare directly attributed to the family's health careneeds including travel, parental food and lodging, dependent care, diminished parental wages, andincidental expenses. Expenses exeeding 10% of afamily's income are considered to constitute familyburden. Although NOOPEs are incurred by virtuallyevery family with a hospitalized child, there virtuallyno information specifically addresses the financialand psychological impact of NOOPEs on familylife. Methods: This study uses a prospective, mixedmethod design. The sampling frame consistsfamilies (N=32) whose children are hospitalizedfor orthopaedic surgeries and is stratified (2 x 2)by admission type (planned or unplanned) andlocation of family's home (local or distant) to thefacility. Families complete an online expensediary to capture the NOOPEs they have incurred. Interviews of parents conducted upon dischargefurther illuminate diary data. Descriptive statisticsand ANOVAs for key variables are calculated. Content analysis of interview data identifies commonthemes related to family life, stressors, and copingstrategies. Results: Pending.