FWHS: Financial Worries and Health Study

Funded by:

National Institutes of Health: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

Overview:

FWHS is a survey-based research study on financial worries and stress experienced by critically ill patients and their families.

This study included patients who received intensive care in the hospital and their families. Patients and families were recruited from the University of Washington health system. Participants were followed for six months and asked to complete three surveys measuring financial worries and stress, and other aspects of health and well-being. Some patients, family members, and health care workers participated in in-depth interviews about their experiences and perspectives. Recruitment for this study ended in 2023.

The results of this study will help us better understand financial stress and find ways to reduce financial stress for future patients and their families.

Publications:

Dotolo, D. G., Pytel, C. C., Nielsen, E. L., Uyeda, A., Im, J., Engelberg, R. A., & Khandelwal, N. Time to Talk Money? Intensive Care Unit Clinician Perspectives on Addressing Financial Hardship. American Journal of Critical Care 34(2), 137–144. https://doi.org/10.4037/ajcc2025476

Dotolo, D. G., Pytel, C. C., Nielsen, E. L., Im, J., Engelberg, R. A., & Khandelwal, N. (2024). Financial Hardship: A Qualitative Study Exploring Perspectives of Seriously Ill Patients and Their Family. Journal of pain and symptom management, 68(5), e382–e391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.08.001

 

Please contact the FWHS Research Coordinator with any questions: Clare Pytel cpytel@uw.edu.