Factors Associated with Cancer Patients' Perception of Treatment Rights Based on Universal Health Coverage Rights in Buriram Province, Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND

Treatment rights awareness is crucial for cancer patients as it enables comprehensive access to medical services, from diagnosis to follow-up care. Lack of understanding of these rights may result in delayed treatment and impact quality of life. Moreover, rights awareness helps patients make more informed decisions about their treatment options. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with cancer patients' perception of treatment rights under the Universal Health Coverage scheme in Buriram Province, Thailand.

METHODS

This cross-sectional analytical research involved 522 cancer patients with Universal Health Coverage rights who received services at Nangrong Hospital and its seven network hospitals. Data was collected using questionnaires. The statistical analysis employed descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression for inferential analysis.

RESULTS

The study found that the prevalence of high-level rights perception among cancer patients in Buriram Province, Thailand was 78.35% (95% CI: 0.74-0.81). Factors significantly associated with rights perception included: being female (AOR = 3.80, 95%CI: 2.28-6.52, p-value < 0.001), having family members with chronic diseases (AOR = 2.26, 95%CI: 1.20-4.26, p-value = 0.012), having high media literacy health literacy (AOR = 2.10, 95%CI: 1.21-3.63, p-value = 0.008), high perception of resource support (AOR = 3.66, 95%CI: 1.77-6.26, p-value < 0.001), high perception of personnel (AOR = 3.06, 95%CI: 1.61-5.83, p-value = 0.001), high perception of process (AOR = 2.38, 95%CI: 1.42-4.00, p-value = 0.001), and high perception of physical evidence (AOR = 2.22, 95%CI: 1.26-3.92, p-value = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Enhancing patients' awareness of treatment rights will increase access to quality services, reduce healthcare disparities, and promote quality of life for cancer patients in the study area.