Quality of Working Life of cancer survivors: associations with health- and work-related variables

Jong, Merel de; Tamminga, Sietske J.; Frings‐Dresen, Monique H. W.; Boer, Angela G. E. M. de

doi:10.1007/s00520-016-3549-8

Cited by 29 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 43 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…As expected, IBD patients scored the lowest on the subscale "problems due to the health situation" (mean 54, SD 26). This subscore was slightly higher compared to cancer survivors who had returned to work (mean 49, SD 27) [21]. Disease-related variables that were associated with impaired QWL in IBD patients included clinical disease activity, presence of arthralgia, and systemic corticosteroid use.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Impaired Quality of Working Life in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Work-related aspects are important determinants of health for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Aims We aimed to describe quality of working life (QWL) in IBD patients and to assess variables that are associated with QWL. Methods Employed IBD patients of two tertiary and two secondary referral hospitals were included. QWL (range 0-100) was measured using the Quality of Working Life Questionnaire (QWLQ). Work productivity (WP), fatigue, and health-related quality of life (HRQL) were assessed using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, and Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire, respectively. Active disease was defined as a score > 4 for the patient-reported Harvey-Bradshaw index in Crohn's disease (CD) or Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index in ulcerative colitis patients. Results In total, 510 IBD patients were included (59% female, 53% CD, mean age 43 (SD 12) years). The mean QWLQ score was 78 (SD 11). The lowest subscore (54 (SD 26)) was observed for "problems due to the health situation": 63% reported fatigue-related problems at work, 48% agreed being hampered at work, 46% had limited confidence in their body, and 48% felt insecure about the future due to their health situation. Intermediate/strong associations were found between QWL and fatigue (r = − 0.543, p < 0.001), HRQL (r = 0.527, p < 0.001), WP loss (r = − 0.453, p < 0.001) and disease activity (r = − 0.331, p < 0.001). Independent predictors of impaired QWL in hierarchical regression analyses were fatigue (B = − 0.204, p < 0.001), WP loss (B = − 0.070, p < 0.001), and impaired HRQL (B = 0.248, p = 0.001). Conclusions IBD-related problems at work negatively influence QWL. Fatigue, reduced HRQL, and WP loss were independent predictors of impaired QWL in IBD.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Impaired Quality of Working Life in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A possible reason may have been difficulty maintaining physically demanding or manual jobs, which are more common in men in deprived areas [ 30 ]. Cancer survivors with physically demanding jobs, such as heavy lifting, found their jobs more challenging [ 31 , 32 ], and manual labour was found to negatively impact on survivors return-to-work [ 33 ]. As men from more deprived areas may have more physically demanding or manual jobs this may have been a possible reason for their higher odds of unemployment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors influencing job loss and early retirement in working men with prostate cancer—findings from the population-based Life After Prostate Cancer Diagnosis (LAPCD) study

Bennett¹,

Kearney²,

Donnelly³

et al. 2018

J Cancer Surviv

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

PurposeTo investigate factors associated with job loss and early retirement in men diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) 18–42 months previously.MethodsMen ≤ 60 years at diagnosis who completed the Life After Prostate Cancer Diagnosis (LAPCD) survey were identified. Men who moved from employment at diagnosis to unemployment (EtoU) or retirement (EtoR) at survey (18–42 months post-diagnosis) were compared to men remaining in employment (EtoE). Sociodemographic, clinical and patient-reported factors were analysed in univariable and multivariable analysis.ResultsThere were 3218 men (81.4%) in the EtoE, 245 (6.2%) in EtoU and 450 (11.4%) in the EtoR groups. Men with stage IV disease (OR = 4.7 95% CI 3.1–7.0, relative to stage I/II) and reporting moderate/big bowel (OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.6–3.9) or urinary problems (OR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.4–3.0) had greater odds of becoming unemployed. Other clinical (≥ 1 comorbidities, symptomatic at diagnosis) and sociodemographic (higher deprivation, divorced/separated), living in Scotland or Northern Ireland (NI)) factors were predictors of becoming unemployed. Men who were older, from NI, with stage IV disease and with caring responsibilities had greater odds of retiring early. Self-employed and non-white men had lesser odds of retiring early.ConclusionPCa survivors who retire early following diagnosis do not report worse urinary or bowel problems compared to men remaining in employment. However, we identified clinical and sociodemographic factors which increased unemployment risk in PCa survivors.Implications for Cancer SurvivorsTargeted support and engagement with PCa survivors at risk of unemployment, including their families and employers, is needed.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s11764-018-0704-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

show abstract

“…For the employee expert panel, the inclusion criteria were that employees had been diagnosed with cancer in the past 7 years, were over 18 years of age at time of diagnosis, worked for an employer (either part-time or full-time, on a flexible, temporary or permanent basis) at time of diagnosis and were able to speak and read Dutch. A heterogeneous (gender and diagnosis) group of employees with cancer was purposefully sampled using a database of previous research [ 23 ]. In addition, we strove for heterogeneity in respect of company size and RTW outcomes.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

What Employer Actions Are Considered Most Important for the Return to Work of Employees with Cancer? A Delphi Study Among Employees and Employers

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose Employers are important stakeholders in the return to work (RTW) of employees with cancer. However, it is unclear what employer actions are most important to that process. The objective, therefore, was to reach consensus on what employer actions are considered most important for the RTW of employees with cancer, by employers and employees separately. Methods A two-round online Delphi study was conducted with two expert panels: one with 23 employers and one with 29 employees with cancer. The results from each panel were analysed separately. Out of 24 suggested employer actions, participants selected the 10 they considered most important for RTW in each of the following RTW phases: (1) disclosure, (2) treatment, (3) RTW plan, and (4) actual RTW. The consensus threshold was set at ≥ 80% during the second round. Results The employer and employee expert panels both reached consensus on the importance of 'emotional support', 'practical support', 'allow sufficient sick leave', 'plan return to work', 'adjust expectations', 'assess work ability', and 'show appreciation'. Employers also reached consensus on 'communicate' and 'treat normally', and employees on 'handle unpredictability'. All these employer actions were considered to be specific for one to three RTW phases. Conclusions Employers reached consensus on the importance of nine employer actions, employees on eight. Both stakeholder perspectives showed great similarities, but did vary regarding important employer actions during the employee's treatment. We recommend developing interventions targeting the employer, meeting both employer and employee needs in each RTW phase, to enhance RTW support for employees with cancer.

show abstract

Quality of Working Life of cancer survivors: associations with health- and work-related variables

Cited by 29 publications

References 43 publications

Impaired Quality of Working Life in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

Impaired Quality of Working Life in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

Factors influencing job loss and early retirement in working men with prostate cancer—findings from the population-based Life After Prostate Cancer Diagnosis (LAPCD) study

What Employer Actions Are Considered Most Important for the Return to Work of Employees with Cancer? A Delphi Study Among Employees and Employers

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About