Returning to work after cancer is a complicated phenomenon.
OBJECTIVE:
This study aimed to explore Iranian cancer survivors’ concerns during returning to work.
METHODS:
This qualitative study was conducted on 19 cancer survivors at a referral center of cancer Northwest of Iran. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews and analyzed using a conventional content analysis method.
RESULTS:
“Taking an obscure path” emerged as a main concern of cancer survivors in returning to work which included three categories of limited Information, hesitation in personal abilities and worry about the reactions of workplace.
CONCLUSIONS:
Cancer survivors were uncertain about returning to work. This uncertainty can distress cancer survivors in the process of returning to work and may cause them to delay the process. The staff of healthcare systems including physicians, nurses and occupational rehabilitation specialists must address the concerns of cancer survivors and prepare them to return to work. Moreover, by working in collaboration with employers, rehabilitation specialists must provide appropriate conditions for cancer survivors to safely return to the workplaces.
Balak, F., Roelen, C. A., Koopmans, P. C., Elike, E., & Groothoff, J. W. (2008). Return to work after early-stage breast cancer: A cohort study into the effects of treatment and cancer-related symptoms. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 18(3), 267–272.
2.
Banning, M. (2011). Employment and breast cancer: A meta-ethnography. European Journal of Cancer Care, 20(6), 708–719.
3.
Bray, F., Ferlay, J., Soerjomataram, I., Siegel, R. L., Torre, L. A., & Jemal, A. (2018). Global cancer statistics 2018: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. doi: 10.3322/caac.21492
4.
Coleman, M. P. (2010). Cancer survival in the developing world. The Lancet Oncology, 11(2), 110–111.
5.
De Angelis, R., Sant, M., Coleman, M. P., Francisci, S., Baili, P., Pierannunzio, D.,… & Capocaccia, R. (2014). Cancer survival in Europe 1999-2007 by country and age: Results of EUROCARE—5-a population-based study. The Lancet Oncology, 15(1), 23–34.
6.
de Boer, A. G. (2014). The European Cancer and Work Network: CANWON. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 24(3), 393–398.
7.
de Boer, A. G., Taskila, T. K., Tamminga, S. J., Feuerstein, M., Frings-Dresen, M. H., & Verbeek, J. H. (2015). Interventions to enhance return-to-work for cancer patients. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 25, CD007569. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007569.pub3
8.
DeSantis, C. E., Lin, C. C., Mariotto, A. B., Siegel, R. L., Stein, K. D., Kramer, J. L.,… Jemal, A. (2014). Cancer treatment and survivorship statistics, 2014. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 64(4), 252–271.
9.
Duijts, S., Dalton, S. O., Lundh, M. H., Horsboel, T. A., & Johansen, C. (2017). Cancer survivors and return to work: Current knowledge and future research. Psycho-Oncology, 26(5), 715–717.
10.
Duijts, S. F., van Egmond, M. P., Spelten, E., van Muijen, P., Anema, J. R., & van der Beek, A. J. (2014). Physical and psychosocial problems in cancer survivors beyond return to work: A systematic review. Psycho-Oncology, 23(5), 481–492.
11.
Edwards, B. K., Ward, E., Kohler, B. A., Eheman, C., Zauber, A. G., Anderson, R. N.,… Seeff, L. C. (2010). Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer, 1975–2006, featuring colorectal cancer trends and impact of interventions (risk factors, screening, and treatment) to reduce future rates. Cancer, 116(3), 544–573.
12.
Elo, S., & Kyngas, H. (2008). The qualitative content analysis process. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 62(1), 107–115.
13.
Farhood, B., Geraily, G., & Alizadeh, A. (2018). Incidence and Mortality of Various Cancers in Iran and Compare to Other Countries: A Review Article. Iranian Journal of Public Health, 47(3), 309.
14.
Fisher, C., & O'Connor, M. (2012). “Motherhood” in the context of living with breast cancer. Cancer Nursing, 35(2), 157–163.
15.
Graneheim, U. H., & Lundman, B. (2004). Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: Concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness. Nurse Education Today, 24(2), 105–112.
16.
Greidanus, M., de Boer, A., de Rijk, A., Tiedtke, C., Dierckx de Casterlé, B., Frings-Dresen, M., & Tamminga, S. (2018). Perceived employer-related barriers and facilitators for work participation of cancer survivors: A systematic review of employers’ and survivors’ perspectives. Psycho-Oncology, 27(3), 725–733.
17.
Grove, S. K., Burns, N., & Gray, J. (2012). The practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence. Elsevier Health Sciences.
18.
Isaksson, J., Wilms, T., Laurell, G., Fransson, P., & Ehrsson, Y. T. (2016). Meaning of work and the process of returning after head and neck cancer. Supportive Care in Cancer, 24(1), 205–213.
19.
Islam, T., Dahlui, M., Majid, H. A., Nahar, A. M., Mohd Taib, N. A., & Su, T. T. (2014). Factors associated with return to work of breast cancer survivors: A systematic review. BMC Public Health, 14(Suppl 3), S8. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-s3-s8
20.
Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
21.
McKay, G., Knott, V., & Delfabbro, P. (2013). Return to work and cancer: The Australian experience. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 23, 93–105.
22.
Miller, K. D., Siegel, R. L., Lin, C. C., Mariotto, A. B., Kramer, J. L., Rowland, J. H.,… Jemal, A. (2016). Cancer treatment and survivorship statistics, 2016. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 66(4), 271–289.
23.
Miller, L. E. (2012). Sources of uncertainty in cancer survivorship. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 6(4), 431–440.
24.
Mohebbi, E., Nahvijou, A., Hadji, M., Rashidian, H., Seyyedsalehi, M. S., Nemati, S.,… Zendehdel, K. (2017). Iran Cancer Statistics in 2012 and projection of cancer incidence by 2035. Basic & Clinical Cancer Research, 9(3), 3–22.
25.
Nekhlyudov, L., Walker, R., Ziebell, R., Rabin, B., Nutt, S., & Chubak, J. (2016). Cancer survivors’ experiences with insurance, finances, and employment: Results from a multisite study. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 10(6), 1104–1111.
26.
Nilsson, M., Olsson, M., Wennman-Larsen, A., Petersson, L.-M., & Alexanderson, K. (2011). Return to work after breast cancer: Women's experiences of encounters with different stakeholders. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 15(3), 267–274.
27.
Nowrouzi, B., Lightfoot, N., Cote, K., & Watson, R. (2009). Workplace support for employees with cancer. Current Oncology, 16(5), 15–22.
28.
Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2010). Essentials of nursing research: Appraising evidence for nursing practice: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
29.
Sandberg, J. C., Strom, C., & Arcury, T. A. (2014). Strategies used by breast cancer survivors to address work-related limitations during and after treatment. Womens Health Issues, 24(2), 197–204. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2013.12.007
30.
Sharp, L., Carsin, A. E., & Timmons, A. (2013). Associations between cancer-related financial stress and strain and psychological well-being among individuals living with cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 22(4), 745–755.
31.
Son, M., & Lee, J. S. (2015). Return to Work Experience among Military Officers with Cancer. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing, 45(1), 147–156.
32.
Spelten, E. R., Sprangers, M. A., & Verbeek, J. H. (2002). Factors reported to influence the return to work of cancer survivors: A literature review. Psycho-Oncology, 11(2), 124–131.
33.
Stergiou-Kita, M., Grigorovich, A., Tseung, V., Milosevic, E., Hebert, D., Phan, S., & Jones, J. (2014). Qualitative meta-synthesis of survivors’ work experiences and the development of strategies to facilitate return to work. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 8, 657–670.
34.
Stergiou-Kita, M., Pritlove, C., Holness, D. L., Kirsh, B., van Eerd, D., Duncan, A., & Jones, J. (2016). Am I ready to return to work? Assisting cancer survivors to determine work readiness. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 10(4), 699–710.
35.
Stergiou-Kita, M., Pritlove, C., van Eerd, D., Holness, L. D., Kirsh, B., Duncan, A., & Jones, J. (2016). The provision of workplace accommodations following cancer: Survivor, provider, and employer perspectives. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 10, 489–504.
Tamminga, S., de Boer, A., Bos, M., Fons, G., Kitzen, J., Plaisier, P.,… Frings-Dresen, M. (2012). A hospital-based work support intervention to enhance the return to work of cancer patients: A process evaluation. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 22(4), 565–578.
38.
Tamminga, S. J., de Boer, A. G., Verbeek, J. H., & Frings-Dresen, M. H. (2012). Breast cancer survivors’ views of factors that influence the return-to-work process—a qualitative study. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 38(2), 144–154.
39.
Tan, F. L., Loh, S. Y., Su, T., Veloo, V., & Ng, L. L. (2012). Return to work in multi-ethnic breast cancer survivors-a qualitative inquiry. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 13(11), 5791–5797.
40.
Tiedtke, C., de Rijk, A., Dierckx de Casterlé, B., Christiaens, M. R., & Donceel, P. (2010). Experiences and concerns about `returning to work'for women breast cancer survivors: A literature review. Psycho-Oncology, 19(7), 677–683.
41.
Tiedtke, C., de Rijk, A., Donceel, P., Christiaens, M.-R., & de Casterlé, B. D. (2012). Survived but feeling vulnerable and insecure: A qualitative study of the mental preparation for RTW after breast cancer treatment. BMC Public Health, 12(1), 538.
42.
Tjulin, Å., MacEachen, E., & Ekberg, K. (2010). Exploring workplace actors experiences of the social organization of return-to-work. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 20(3), 311–321.
