Work resumption and retention in patients with advanced cancer: Experiences and perspectives of general and occupational health care professionals

Abstract

Objective: The objectives of this study were to explore the experiences and perspectives of general and occupational health care professionals regarding work resumption and work retention of patients with advanced cancer, and to identify barriers and facilitators these professionals may encounter.Methods: A qualitative design was applied, and individual semistructured interviews were conducted. General and occupational health care professionals were eligible to participate if they were involved in the work participation guidance of patients with advanced cancer, and were recruited through the network of the research team.Interview data were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically via ATLAS.ti 9. Results: Interviewees (N = 17) had various occupational backgrounds, for example, occupational physician, reintegration consultant, and general practitioner. Four main themes emerged from the data: (1) Assumptions and hesitations, (2) Patient initiates stakeholder communication, (3) Role dispersion: who is in charge of what? and (4) Experience with legislation creates opportunities. Conclusion: Whereas most interviewees had positive experiences with, and/or optimistic expectations of, the work resumption and work retention of patients with advanced cancer, several barriers to the work participation guidance of these patients were identified. Suggestions for improvement include creating widespread awareness of the possibility of work participation of patients with advanced cancer and developing reintegration guidelines for advanced cancer.

Illness trajectories of incurable solid cancers

“…In our experience, patients find it important to continue with things in life that they enjoy as much as possible. For example, about half of patients with advanced cancer are of working age,47 and when diagnosed they are often advised to stop working immediately (as seen in the example of box 4). Given the improvements in cancer care, continuing work may be advisable, by increasing quality of life through the continued sense of normalcy, daily structure, and social belonging 4748…”

Timely integration of palliative care into cancer care

“…One of these challenges may be work‐related. Zegers et al showed that there are several barriers related to work resumption and work retention of patients with advanced cancer (Zegers et al, 2022). Moreover, in a cross‐sectional study among 254 relatives of patients with advanced cancer, Bakker et al showed that especially partners, those who provided more informal care, showed higher levels of caregiver activation.…”