Table 2 Summary of household economic outcomes in the study population

Economic hardship

87

96.7%

48

98.0%

14

93.3%

25

96.2%

Could not pay for

Utilities

26

29.5%

14

29.2%

4

26.7%

8

32.0%

Rent/mortgage

14

15.9%

8

16.7%

3

20.0%

3

12.0%

Car payments

19

21.6%

13

27.1%

1

6.7%

5

20.0%

Minimum credit card payment

19

21.6%

12

25.0%

2

13.3%

5

20.0%

Medications

22

25.3%

15

31.3%

3

20.0%

4

16.7%

Medical/health appointments

39

44.3%

22

45.8%

5

33.3%

12

48.0%

Health insurance

13

14.9%

7

14.9%

2

13.3%

4

16.0%

Dental appointments

27

31.0%

17

36.2%

2

13.3%

8

32.0%

Transport

14

16.3%

10

21.7%

1

6.7%

3

12.0%

Food

22

25.0%

13

27.1%

4

36.7%

5

20.0%

Did not attend medical appointments

30

34.5%

16

34.0%

5

33.3%

9

36.0%

Did not fill prescriptions

23

26.1%

15

31.3%

4

26.7%

4

16.0%

Unable to heat home

13

14.8%

8

16.7%

2

13.3%

3

12.0%

Did you do use any of these strategies because you were short on money?

Reduced home loan payments

5

5.7%

1

2.1%

2

13.3%

2

8.0%

Used savings put aside for other purposes

54

61.4%

30

62.5%

8

53.3%

16

64.0%

Moved house

13

14.9%

8

17.0%

4

26.7%

1

4.0%

Increased credit card debt $1000 or more

26

29.9%

13

27.7%

4

26.7%

9

36.0%

Sought financial assistance from friends/family

39

45.3%

21

45.7%

8

53.3%

10

40.0%

Sought financial assistance from welfare or community organisation

20

23.0%

12

25.5%

3

20.0%

5

20.0%

Informal loan

14

16.1%

7

14.9%

3

20.0%

4

16.0%

Formal loan

9

10.3%

5

10.6%

1

6.7%

3

12.0%

Sold assets

13

14.9%

4

8.5%

4

26.7%

5

20.0%

Other

16

18.4%

10

21.3%

2

13.3%

4

16.0%

Cost-related non-adherence

16

17.8%

10

20.4%

3

20.0%

3

11.5%

Spent greater than 10% of income on medical and health-related expenses (self-reported)

30

41.7%

17

44.7%

6

46.2%

7

33.3%