Intervention Model of Returning to Work Based on the Experience of Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

Background: Currently, the breast cancer has become one of major threats to females’ health. However, the percentage of returning to work is low for those breast cancer patients in China. Return to work is beneficial for breast cancer patients to help them realize social rehabilitation.Purpose: To explore and build up the intervention model of returning to work based on the experience of breast cancer patients, it can provide help and guidance for relevant personal.Methods: A total of fourteen breast cancer patients who had returned to work voluntarily participated in the semi-structural interviews. The results of interviews were analyzed according to the Colaizzi's phenomenological analytic procedure.Results: The analysis indicates that the following five parts could have the positive effects on the returning to work of breast cancer patients: (1) overcoming negative emotions, (2) rebuilding confidence, (3) correcting mentality and establishing goals, (4) obtaining all-around social support, and (5) seeking balance between body and work. Based on these aspects, the requirement model and the innovative intervention model of returning to work for breast cancer patients were separately built up to provide help and guidance for relevant personnel.Conclusions: Breast cancer patients successfully returned to work, which required the own internal strength and the powerful external support. Their internal determination should be strengthened to initiate the belief of returning to work, and the external environment should also be enhanced to benefit their employment. In addition, the continuous professional guidance should be implemented to maintain their healthy behaviors and high quality of life.