Trajectories of returning to work and its impact on survival in survivors with oral cancer: A 5‐year follow‐up study

Chen, Yuan‐Yuei; Wang, Chung‐Ching; Wu, Wei‐Te; Lai, Ching‐Huang; Ho, Ching‐Liang; Hsu, Ya-Yuan; Chen, Wei‐Liang

doi:10.1002/cncr.32643

Cited by 15 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…However, according to the analysis of the national health insurance data, about half of all working cancer patients lose their jobs after receiving a cancer diagnosis, and only up to 40% of them are reemployed [8,9]. This may be attributed to various reasons, but the key influencing factors seem to be: gender, age, occupation type, level of income [9], medical conditions including chemotherapy [10], and comorbidities [11]. Furthermore, the level of understanding from co-workers, social support system available to the patient, information sharing [12], the prevailing stigma, and the presence/absence of discrimination toward cancer patients [13] have also been suggested to affect patients' work-related decisions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes after cancer diagnosis and return to work: experience of Korean cancer patients

Bae

Cho

2021

BMC Cancer

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Background Cancer patients’ return to work is a growing aspect of survivorship care, yet limited studies have been conducted in Korea to understand the work-related experience of cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to understand the unmet needs of cancer patients and identify the necessary factors to develop a vocational intervention program based on cancer patients’ work-related experience after cancer diagnosis. Methods Semi-structured individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 50 cancer patients who were working at the time of diagnosis at a university hospital in Seoul, South Korea from July to September of 2017. Interview data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results ‘The changes patients experienced after cancer diagnosis’ were categorized into Personal and socio-environmental changes. ‘Personal changes’ were changes within the patient that were further divided into ‘physical’, ‘psychological’ and ‘spiritual’ changes while ‘socio-environmental changes’ were changes in either ‘attitude’ and ‘relationship’ of other people cancer patients encountered. In addition to these post-diagnosis changes, the following 4 major factors related to return-to-work were identified to affect patients’ experience: ‘fear of cancer recurrence’, ‘financial status’, ‘informational support’, and ‘job-related work environment’. Conclusion Cancer patients’ working status was determined by personal and socio-environmental changes after the cancer diagnosis which as well as psychological distress and practical issues such as fear of cancer recurrence, financial burden, and work environment. Educational materials and intervention programs informing patients on these changes and factors may facilitate their return-to-work after diagnosis.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes after cancer diagnosis and return to work: experience of Korean cancer patients

Bae

Cho

2021

BMC Cancer

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“…In a recent study, the risk factors affecting returning to work of cancer survivors included personal, employment, and socioeconomic factors 15 . Chen et al demonstrated that RTW may have a beneficial effect on the survival of patients with oral cancer in Taiwan 16 . Among the cancer and symptom factors , in our study, the chances of returning to work were higher for the patients who received surgical treatment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life expectancy estimations and determinants of return to work among cancer survivors over a 7-year period

Chen

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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Due to advances in medical science and technology, the number of cancer survivors continues to increase. The workplace needs and employment difficulties cancer survivors face after treatment need to be addressed to protect these individuals’ right to work and to maintain the overall labor force of the country. We conducted a retrospective cohort study with a follow-up period from 2004 to 2010. All data analyzed in the study were obtained from the Labor Insurance Database, the Taiwan Cancer Registry of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the National Health Insurance Research Database. The relationships between risk factors and the presence of returning to work were analyzed by a Cox proportional hazard model. The survival rates of patients with different cancer stages were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Among the employees with an initial diagnosis of cancer, 70.4% remained employed through 1 year after the diagnosis, accounting for 83.4% of all cancer survivors; only 51.1% remained employed through 5 years after the diagnosis, accounting for 78.7% of all cancer survivors, a notable decrease. Age, gender, salary, treatment method, company size, and cancer stage were the factors that affected whether employees could return to work or not. The long-term survival of people diagnosed with cancer depends on their chances of returning to work. Strengthening existing return-to-work policies and assisting cancer survivors with returning to work after the treatment should be priorities for protecting these individuals’ right to work and for maintaining the overall labor force.

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“…The survival and recurrence differences in both ALaCaRT and other trials have shown no significant difference between open and laparoscopic approaches 20 . Given that maintaining employment is an important patient‐centered outcome for cancer survivors, their family members and society, 31‐33 the potential impact of laparoscopic‐assisted surgery on RTW could be promoted to new patients.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our research identified several factors that were associated with RTW, including being employed in a full‐time rather than part‐time capacity presurgery, and not having distant metastases at time of surgery. As a minimally invasive surgery, faster RTW, which contributes to income, a sense of structure and social recovery, 31‐33 has been one of the main objectives of undergoing laparoscopic‐assisted surgery for abdominal and pelvic procedures. Type of surgery, age, sex, and surgical outcome (successful versus unsuccessful), were not significant predictors of RTW for rectal cancer patients in most scenarios.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Novel therapeutic approaches and initiatives such as patient education and group discussion, multidisciplinary intervention through physical exercise and counseling, workplace accommodations through job flexibility, coworker support, and employment‐based health insurance have been implemented to assist cancer survivors to RTW after treatment 27,32,37‐39 . This provides a sense of “normality,” a feeling of social belonging, 40 and relieving financial stress of cancer patients and their family for cancer treatment and other bills, 43,44 which can improve cancer survivors’ quality of life 45,46 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Return to work following laparoscopic‐assisted resection or open resection for rectal cancer: Findings from AlaCaRT—Australasian Laparoscopic Cancer of the Rectum Trial

et al. 2020

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Background Maintaining employment for adults with cancer is important, however, little is known about the impact of surgery for rectal cancer on an individual's capacity to return to work (RTW). This study aimed to determine the impact of laparoscopic vs. open resection on RTW at 12 months. Methods Analyses were undertaken among participants randomized in the Australian Laparoscopic Cancer of the Rectum Trial (ALaCaRT), with work status available at baseline (presurgery), and 12 months. Multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics estimated the effect of surgery on RTW in any capacity, or return to preoperative work status at 12 months. Results About 228 of 449 (51%) surviving trial participants at 12 months completed work status questionnaires; mean age was 62 years, 66% males, 117 of these received laparoscopic resection (51%). Of 228, 120 were employed at baseline (90 full‐time, 30 part‐time). Overall RTW in 120 participants in paid work at baseline was 78% (84% laparoscopic, 70% open surgery). Those employed full‐time were more likely to RTW at 12 months (OR, 3.55; 95% CI, 1.02–12.31). Those with distant metastases at baseline were less likely to RTW (OR, 0.07; 95% CI, <0.01–0.83). Laparoscopic surgery was associated with a higher rate of RTW but did not reach statistical significance (OR 2.88; 95% CI, 0.95–8.76). Conclusions Full‐time work presurgery and the presence of metastatic disease predicts RTW status at 12 months. A laparoscopic‐assisted surgical approach to rectal cancer may facilitate more patients to RTW, however, larger sample sizes are likely needed to confirm this result.

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Trajectories of returning to work and its impact on survival in survivors with oral cancer: A 5‐year follow‐up study

Cited by 15 publications

References 60 publications

Changes after cancer diagnosis and return to work: experience of Korean cancer patients

Changes after cancer diagnosis and return to work: experience of Korean cancer patients

Life expectancy estimations and determinants of return to work among cancer survivors over a 7-year period

Return to work following laparoscopic‐assisted resection or open resection for rectal cancer: Findings from AlaCaRT—Australasian Laparoscopic Cancer of the Rectum Trial

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