Do childhood cancer and physical late effects increase worries about future employment in adulthood?

Abstract

Background: Experiences of childhood cancer and physical late effects can potentially increase various components of worries about employment among unemployed adult survivors of childhood cancer, but the nature of these effects on worries is unknown. Aims:This study aimed to describe worries about employment among unemployed adult survivors of childhood cancer through a comparison with those among the unemployed general population and to clarify the components of worries about employment affected by physical late effects. Method and results: Worries about employment were assessed using nine items in the International Survey of Youth Attitude conducted by the Japanese Cabinet Office. Physical late effects among unemployed survivors were evaluated by their attending physicians. Data from the unemployed general population were extracted from the International Survey of Youth Attitude. We used propensity score and multiple regression analysis to estimate the impact of childhood cancer and physical late effects on worries about employment. We surveyed 48 unemployed survivors and 286 members of the unemployed general population. Unemployed survivors reported significantly higher score of worries about health and physical well-being than did the unemployed general population (Cohen's f 2 = 0.007). Meanwhile, unemployed survivors reported significantly lower scores of worries about work ability, interpersonal relationships at workplaces, age until which they can work, layoffs, income, job transfers, and possibility and continuity of employment than did the unemployed general population (Cohen's f 2 = 0.002-0.018). Unemployed survivors with physical late effects reported significantly higher scores on all components of worries about employment than did those without physical late effects (Cohen's f 2 = 0.137-1.304). Conclusion: Physical late effects rather than experiences of childhood cancer have large impacts on various worries about employment among unemployed survivors. It would be valuable to understand and assess systematically the impact of physical late effects on employment in unemployed survivors.

Impacts of physical late effects on presenteeism in childhood cancer survivors

“…Physical complications aggravated unemployment [13][14][15] and worries about future The standardized bias for the difference in the rate of hematological malignancies between employed CCSs with no, single, and multiple physical late effects was calculated. 16,17 in CCSs. Our findings indicate that CCSs with multiple physical late effects, in particular, struggle with work-related difficulties even after getting a job.…”

“…Our results support our hypothesis that multiple physical late effects, in particular, increased presenteeism. Physical complications aggravated unemployment 13–15 and worries about future employment 16,17 in CCSs. Our findings indicate that CCSs with multiple physical late effects, in particular, struggle with work‐related difficulties even after getting a job.…”

“…Among CCSs, the onset of physical late effects is a risk factor for work-related problems such as unemployment [13][14][15] and worries about future employment. 16,17 Moreover, the risk for unemployment was higher for CCSs with two or more medical co-morbidities than those with one medical co-morbidity. 13 The presence and increased number of physical late effects can also cause worsening presenteeism in employed CCSs.…”

“…Physical complications such as physical fatigue, 8–10 pain, 11 and hot flashes 12 were associated with presenteeism in employed survivors of adulthood cancer. Among CCSs, the onset of physical late effects is a risk factor for work‐related problems such as unemployment 13–15 and worries about future employment 16,17 . Moreover, the risk for unemployment was higher for CCSs with two or more medical co‐morbidities than those with one medical co‐morbidity 13 .…”

Work Placement and Job Satisfaction in Long-Term Childhood Cancer Survivors: The Impact of Late Effects

“…Monitoring and understanding the long-term consequences that CCS can develop through their life is relevant for public health [ 1 ]. Besides the possible onset of physical late effects induced by cancer treatments, CCS are at risk of developing psychological and socioeconomic vulnerability [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ].…”