Required needs and related factors for supporting return to work for young adult cancer survivors

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate return to work support and related factors of young adult cancer survivors. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. Data were collected from 134 young adult cancer survivors, and analyzed using IBM SPSS statistics 26.0 through descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple linear regression. Results: The most influential factors affecting the need to return to work were related to type of cancer. Return to work support was higher for cancer survivors treated with urological cancer (β = -0.29, p = .007) compared with gynecological cancer, for those who received fewer treatments (β = -0.23, p = .007), and those experiencing cancer fatigue (β = 0.19, p = .012). For those experiencing recurrence and metastasis, the need to return to work was less than for those not (β = 0.25, p = .004). Conclusion: Effective and practical interventions to enable a return to work among young adult cancer survivors should be developed and provided considering disease-related characteristics and fatigue, such as diagnosed cancer, recurrence and metastasis, and the number of cancer treatments received. Implications for Cancer Survivors: Cancer survivors' health care providers and return to work stakeholders may consider developing effective strategies that reflect the diverse needs and characteristics of the growing number of young cancer survivors to successfully return to work.