Exploring the Needs of Cancer Survivors When Returning to or Staying in the Workforce

Berger, Ivona; Beck, Lydia; Jones, Jennifer; MacEachen, Ellen; Kirsh, Bonnie

doi:10.1007/s10926-020-09877-z

Cited by 14 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 93 publications

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“…While continued research is needed, there are some practical implications worth highlighting. First, there is growing interest in developing interventions to improve psychological health among cancer survivors [ 36 ]. Our findings provide evidence that health behaviors and psychological health are related, and that the number of health behaviors a cancer survivor engages in could be positively associated with psychological health.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eat, sleep, play: health behaviors and their association with psychological health among cancer survivors in a nationally representative sample

2022

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Background Cancer survivors are able to live much longer today than in the past due to advances in treatment. The promotion of health behaviors is important to address among cancer survivors. Not only can health behaviors reduce the risk of comorbidities, but they may also be key to improving psychological health among cancer survivors, such as psychological distress, perceptions of one’s general health, and distress of cancer mortality (i.e., cancer fatalism). Our overall goal is to 1) determine which individual health behaviors (e.g., fruit consumption, physical activity, and sleep) are associated with psychological health among cancer survivors and 2) determine if the number of health behaviors engaged in is associated with better psychological health among cancer survivors. Methods Using data from the HINTS 5 Cycle III survey (N = 856 cancer survivors), we compared whether participants who met guidelines for seven health behaviors (e.g., fruit and vegetable consumption, moderate physical activity, sleep duration) had improved psychological health. Multiple ordinal regression models controlling for sociodemographic variables were used to determine if meeting more recommendations was related to psychological health and then specifically which behaviors were of greatest importance to psychological health. Results Meeting guidelines for sleep quality and moderate physical activity was associated with higher general health and meeting guidelines for vegetable intake and better sleep quality was associated with less psychological distress. Although the associations were not significant, cancer survivors who met more of the health behavior guidelines reported higher general health, lower psychological distress, and less distress about what could be done to lower one’s chances to get cancer. Conclusions Meeting the guidelines for individual and multiple health behaviors is associated with favorable psychological health among cancer survivors. The findings can contribute to the development of health behavior interventions that focus on multiple health behaviors to improve psychological health and quality of life among cancer survivors.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eat, sleep, play: health behaviors and their association with psychological health among cancer survivors in a nationally representative sample

2022

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“…To promote communication and support between the workplace and people on sick leave, healthcare in Sweden has introduced rehabilitation coordinators in both primary and specialty healthcare [ 30 ]. Research that describes the effects of the rehabilitation coordinator’s role in RTW is recent and limited [ 29 , 31 ]. Therefore, it is important to use empirical research to investigate how managers perceive participation in workplace interventions provided by healthcare for persons with SED.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced Capacity to Act: Managers’ Perspectives When Participating in a Dialogue-Based Workplace Intervention for Employee Return to Work

et al. 2020

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Purpose To explore if and how a dialogue-based workplace intervention with a convergence dialogue meeting can support a return to work process from the managers' perspective. Methods Individual interviews were conducted with 16 managers (10 women and 6 men) who had an employee on sick leave because of stress-induced exhaustion disorder. The manager and employee participated in a dialogue-based workplace intervention with a convergence dialogue meeting that was guided by a healthcare rehabilitation coordinator. The intervention aimed to facilitate dialogue and find concrete solutions to enable return to work. The interviews were analyzed by the Grounded Theory method. Results A theoretical model was developed with the core category enhancing managerial capacity to act in a complex return to work process, where the managers strengthened their agential capacity in three levels (categories). These levels were building competence, making adjustments, and sharing responsibility with the employee. The managers also learned to navigate in multiple systems and by balancing demands, control and support for the employee and themselves. An added value was that the managers began to take preventive measures with other employees. When sick leave was caused only by personal or social issues (not work), workplace actions or interventions were difficult to find. Conclusions From the managers' perspective, dialogue-based workplace interventions with a convergence dialogue meeting and support from a rehabilitation coordinator can strengthen managerial competence and capacity to act in a complex return to work process.

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“…An individuals' physical limitations can impact their work performance, necessitating modifications to their roles, reduced work hours, adjustments in work methods, or even cessation of work [39,40]. The presence of uncertainty surrounding the trajectory of the illness adds to the challenge of implementing these modifications effectively [43] and warrants further investigation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…My return was so intensive that I felt I was drowning. The administration did not cut me any slack (Amy, age 43).…”

Section: Before I Returned To Work I Had Many Worries: Would I Be Abl...mentioning

confidence: 99%

"Hearing the pupils’ voices through my own struggles”: A qualitative study of return to work among school counselors who are breast cancer survivors

Levkovich,

Rosman,

Signorelli

2024

PLoS ONE

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For breast cancer survivors, returning to work is an important step for their personal, financial, and psycho-social recovery. Returning to work as a school counselor can be particularly challenging because of the demands of their job and stress at work. This qualitative study examines return to work among school counselors who are breast cancer survivors. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 survivors of breast cancer stages I–III between the ages of 32 and 55, and up to ten years after the completion of chemotherapy. Interviews focused on the discovery of the illness, treatment period, ramifications of the diagnosis on various aspects of life, and implications for work. Using thematic analysis of the data collected, analysis of the findings revealed three key themes: 1) “Everyone is replaceable”: The significance of disruptions in work continuity for school counselors who are breast cancer survivors. 2) "From Zero to a Hundred": Challenges Faced by Counselors in Returning to Work after Breast Cancer Recovery.3) “It’s hard to listen to counselees’ problems when I am immersed in my own crisis”: How surviving breast cancer affects return to work among school counselors. Findings highlight the unique needs of these counselors and the challenges they face upon returning to work. The study discusses recommendations for school principals including training, advocacy, and awareness to support survivors and improve their return to work.

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Exploring the Needs of Cancer Survivors When Returning to or Staying in the Workforce

Cited by 14 publications

References 93 publications

Eat, sleep, play: health behaviors and their association with psychological health among cancer survivors in a nationally representative sample

Eat, sleep, play: health behaviors and their association with psychological health among cancer survivors in a nationally representative sample

Enhanced Capacity to Act: Managers’ Perspectives When Participating in a Dialogue-Based Workplace Intervention for Employee Return to Work

"Hearing the pupils’ voices through my own struggles”: A qualitative study of return to work among school counselors who are breast cancer survivors

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