Cancer Survivors’ Social Context in the Return to Work Process: Narrative Accounts of Social Support and Social Comparison Information

Abstract

Purpose Returning to work is a process that is intertwined with the social aspects of one's life, which can influence the way in which that person manages their return to work and also determines the support available to them. This study aimed to explore cancer patients' perceptions of the role of their social context in relation to returning to work following treatment. Methods Twenty-three patients who had received a diagnosis of either urological, breast, gynaecological, or bowel cancer participated in semi-structured interviews examining general perceptions of cancer, work values and perceptions of the potential impact of their cancer diagnosis and treatment on work. Interviews were analysed using the iterative process of Framework Analysis. Results Two superordinate themes emerged as influential in the return to work process: Social support as a facilitator of return to work (e.g. co-workers' support and support outside of the workplace) and Social comparison as an appraisal of readiness to return to work (e.g. comparisons with other cancer patients, colleagues, and employees in other organisations or professions). Conclusions Two functions of the social context of returning to work after cancer were apparent in the participants' narrative: the importance of social support as a facilitator of returning to work and the utilisation of social comparison information in order to appraise one's readiness to return to work. The role of social context in returning to work has largely been absent from the research literature to date. The findings of this study suggest that social support and social comparison mechanisms may have a significant impact on an individual's successful return to the workplace.

Labor-force participation and working patterns among women and men who have survived cancer: A descriptive 9-year longitudinal cohort study

“…Modifications made at work after cancer range from no or a small reduction in working hours to change of duties, employer or occupation [ 9 – 11 ]. Employer support and reintegration into social relationships at work strongly promotes successful RTW after cancer treatment [ 12 – 15 ].…”

Impact of physical and psychosocial dysfunction on return to work in survivors of oral cavity cancer

“…The theoretical framework of the current study was the stage‐based model of RTW described by Schultz et al, in which RTW is a process affected by the interaction of temporal elements, psychosocial factors, and the time since the disease. Employing this framework, we hypothesized that survivors of OCC who returned to work were younger and had more education, higher family income, more social support, greater physical function, and greater social‐emotional function . RTW can be an important indicator of activities of daily living, reflect the financial burden about the availability of and access to resources, and indicate the supportive care across the spectrum of cancer care facilities.…”

“…RTW can be an important indicator of activities of daily living, reflect the financial burden about the availability of and access to resources, and indicate the supportive care across the spectrum of cancer care facilities. Although previous studies have examined the issue of RTW after cancer treatment, most research has focused on employment and RTW among survivors of HNC . Taken together, the resources devoted to this important topic can reflect the level of cancer care.…”

Change in Employment Status in Survivors With Occupational Cancers: A Case Control Study

“…Most of them chose to retain at the same jobs as working gave them self-esteem, while not retained the jobs, they will lose their ability to paying bills and getting adequate health insurance (8). However, they had to face some blocks along the way to nding and keeping the job due to the outdated personal policies (8), such as social comparison between other cancer patients, work-capabilities with other colleagues and workplace support and characteristics (13). Therefore, they might let go from the jobs or put themselves into lower position without getting promotions, facing resentment by co-workers (job discrimination) (8).…”

“…In addition, the social support, including cancer supporting group programs, interaction between occupational health professionals and health providers, was another superordinate theme that facilitated in the RTW process (13), such as breast cancer's survivors have contributed a strong association in Taiwan, which sharing the useful information and social support to paid work to breast cancer's survivors. Therefore, the percentage of women who remained in their workplace was greater than men within 540 days.…”