A qualitative study of work and work return in cancer survivors
- 2 March 2005
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Psycho‐Oncology
- Vol. 14 (11), 992-1004
- https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.913
Abstract
Few studies have examined the impact of cancer on the survivor's quality of work life. The purpose of this qualitative study is to describe the work experiences among a diverse group of cancer survivors and to explore factors influencing decisions about work after cancer diagnosis and treatment. We interviewed 28 participants with a broad range of socioeconomic backgrounds and primary cancer sites. Qualitative results indicate that after learning about their cancer diagnosis, participants had diverse and complex patterns of work return and work change, and experienced a variety of factors that influenced post-cancer decisions. Experiences at work after cancer also varied in relation to how others responded, changes in productivity, effects of cancer and treatment on work, and feelings about work. Most respondents received little guidance from their physicians about work, and many participants described their cancer as impacting their priority of work relative to other aspects of their lives. Our findings reinforce the complexity of measuring employment outcomes and the range of adaptations made to improve the quality of work life. Additional research is needed to identify prognostic factors that can guide clinical or workplace efforts to restore cancer survivors to their desired level of work function and economic productivity. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Keywords
This publication has 22 references indexed in Scilit:
- Assessing the impact of cancer on work outcomesCancer, 2004
- Cancer, fatigue and the return of patients to work—a prospective cohort studyEuropean Journal of Cancer, 2003
- A New Approach to Eliciting Meaning in the Context of Breast CancerCancer Nursing, 2003
- A Qualitative Study of Increasing β-Blocker Use After Myocardial InfarctionJAMA, 2001
- Depression, Anxiety, and Quality of Life in Patients with Epithelial Ovarian CancerGynecologic Oncology, 2000
- Breast cancer survivors: Psychosocial concerns and quality of lifeBreast Cancer Research and Treatment, 1996
- The co-dependency concept: Does it offer a solution for the spouses of alcoholics?Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 1994
- Problems of vocational integration after cancerClinical Rehabilitation, 1994
- Psychosocial well-being in testicular cancer patientsEuropean Journal of Cancer and Clinical Oncology, 1991
- The Psychosocial Impact of Cancer on the Elderly: A Comparison with Younger PatientsJournal of the American Geriatrics Society, 1985