“The Last Thing You Have to Worry About”: A Thematic Analysis of Employment Challenges Faced by Cancer Survivors

Lyons, Kathleen Doyle; Forcino, Rachel C; Rotenberg, Sivan; Schiffelbein, Jenna E; Morrissette, Kali J; Godzik, Cassandra; Lichtenstein, Jonathan D.

doi:10.3390/ijerph191811214

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Although many participants had a good relationship with their employees, they knew little about the diagnosis, the effects of cancer and long-term treatment or the employee's abilities. The issue of diagnostic disclosure is also described in other studies of RTW [ 19 , 26 , 27 , 37 , 38 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Supporting the return to work of breast cancer survivors: perspectives from Canadian employer representatives

et al. 2023

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Pur pose A significant proportion of women with breast cancer want to RTW (return to work) after treatment. Employers play a key role in facilitating RTW for these employees who face distinct challenges. However, the portrait of these challenges remains to be documented from the perspective of employer representatives. The purpose of this article is to describe the perceptions of Canadian employer representatives regarding the management of the RTW of BCSs (breast cancer survivors). Methods Thirteen qualitative interviews were conducted with representatives from businesses of various sizes (< 100 employees, 100–500 employees, > 500 employees). Transcribed data were subjected to iterative data analysis. Results Three major themes emerged to describe employer representatives’ perceptions of managing RTW of BCS. These are (1) providing tailored support; (2) remaining ‘human’ while managing RTW; and (3) facing the challenges of RTW management after breast cancer. The first two themes were perceived as facilitating RTW. The challenges identified concern uncertainty, communication with the employee, maintaining a supernumerary work position, balancing employee and organizational interests, reconciling with colleagues’ complaints, and collaboration among stakeholders. Conclusions Employers can adopt a humanistic management style by offering flexibility and increased accommodation for BCS who RTW. They can also be more sensitive to this diagnosis, leading some to seek more information from those around them who have experienced it. Employers require increased awareness about diagnosis and side effects, be more confident to communicate, and improved collaboration between stakeholders to facilitate the RTW of BCS. Implications for cancer survivors Employers who focus on the individual needs of cancer survivors during RTW can facilitate creative and personalized solutions for a sustainable RTW and help survivors recover their lives after cancer.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Supporting the return to work of breast cancer survivors: perspectives from Canadian employer representatives

et al. 2023

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“…In an earlier publication using the same data set [ 7 ], we conducted a thematic analysis using direct quotations to describe overarching themes that depicted commonalities among the experiences of the participants. In contrast, our goal in this analysis was to condense and summarize the full range of perspectives and recommendations of our study’s participants.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During the initial coding of the interview transcripts, described in detail in a related thematic analysis of these data [ 7 ], we created a code titled “Suggestions for what might help,” with an operational definition of “Direct advice regarding what should be included in a program designed to support employment goals of cancer survivors.” The coded text included examples of strategies and resources that participants (ie, cancer survivors, health care providers, or employers) either experienced or felt were important resources for us to develop. As we focused potential interventions on supporting survivors to remain in the workforce, we omitted suggestions focused on supporting survivors to take extended time off work, providing financial aid, and helping to file disability paperwork.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Prior research has identified seven broad factors associated with work outcomes among cancer survivors: (1) cancer survivor social and demographic characteristics; (2) health and well-being, including medical, behavioral, and social health; (3) symptoms, including fatigue, pain, and cognitive issues; (4) function, including physical, cognitive, emotional, and interpersonal aspects; (5) work demands, including physical, cognitive, emotional, and interpersonal demands; (6) work environment, including flexibility, support, climate, and job stress; and (7) policies, procedures, and economic factors in organizational, legal, and financial contexts [ 6 ]. In our rural setting, three specific work-related issues reported by cancer survivors, clinicians, and employers include (1) an onus on the cancer survivor to identify and articulate barriers, (2) time away from work as the main solution to alleviating work issues, and (3) a lack of information available to cancer survivors, clinicians, and employers about optimizing cancer survivors’ employment situations [ 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We engaged participants in a descriptive study, using individual interviews followed by focus groups. The individual interviews generated data regarding employment challenges [ 7 ], and resources and supports that may address those challenges. These data helped us identify the types of interventions that could be developed, tailored, and deployed to support cancer survivors in maintaining employment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring Acceptability of Employment Interventions to Support People Living With Cancer: Qualitative Study of Cancer Survivors, Health Care Providers, and Employers

Forcino¹,

Rotenberg²,

Morrissette³

et al. 2023

JMIR Form Res

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Background Employment contributes to cancer survivors’ quality of life, but this population faces a variety of challenges when working during and after treatment. Factors associated with work outcomes among cancer survivors include disease and treatment status, work environment, and social support. While effective employment interventions have been developed in other clinical contexts, existing interventions have demonstrated inconsistent effectiveness in supporting cancer survivors at work. We conducted this study as a preliminary step toward program development for employment support among survivors at a rural comprehensive cancer center. Objective We aimed (1) to identify supports and resources that stakeholders (cancer survivors, health care providers, and employers) suggest may help cancer survivors to maintain employment and (2) to describe stakeholders’ views on the advantages and disadvantages of intervention delivery models that incorporate those supports and resources. Methods We conducted a descriptive study collecting qualitative data from individual interviews and focus groups. Participants included adult cancer survivors, health care providers, and employers living or working in the Vermont–New Hampshire catchment area of the Dartmouth Cancer Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. We grouped interview participants’ recommended supports and resources into 4 intervention delivery models, which ranged on a continuum from less to more intensive to deliver. We then asked focus group participants to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each of the 4 delivery models. Results Interview participants (n=45) included 23 cancer survivors, 17 health care providers, and 5 employers. Focus group participants (n=12) included 6 cancer survivors, 4 health care providers, and 2 employers. The four delivery models were (1) provision of educational materials, (2) individual consultation with cancer survivors, (3) joint consultation with both cancer survivors and their employers, and (4) peer support or advisory groups. Each participant type acknowledged the value of providing educational materials, which could be crafted to improve accommodation-related interactions between survivors and employers. Participants saw usefulness in individual consultation but expressed concern about the costs of program delivery and potential mismatches between consultant recommendations and the limits of what employers can provide. For joint consultation, employers liked being part of the solution and the possibility of enhanced communication. Potential drawbacks included additional logistical burden and its perceived generalizability to all types of workers and workplaces. Survivors and health care providers viewed the efficiency and potency of peer support as benefits of a peer advisory group but acknowledged the sensitivity of financial topics as a possible disadvantage of addressing work challenges in a group setting. Conclusions The 3 participant groups identified both common and unique advantages and disadvantages of the 4 delivery models, reflecting varied barriers and facilitators to their potential implementation in practice. Theory-driven strategies to address implementation barriers should play a central role in further intervention development.

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Strategies to support cancer survivors at work: content analysis of cancer survivor, healthcare provider, and employer perspectives

Forcino,

Morrissette,

Stevens

et al. 2024

J Cancer Surviv

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“The Last Thing You Have to Worry About”: A Thematic Analysis of Employment Challenges Faced by Cancer Survivors

Cited by 8 publications

References 20 publications

Supporting the return to work of breast cancer survivors: perspectives from Canadian employer representatives

Supporting the return to work of breast cancer survivors: perspectives from Canadian employer representatives

Exploring Acceptability of Employment Interventions to Support People Living With Cancer: Qualitative Study of Cancer Survivors, Health Care Providers, and Employers

Strategies to support cancer survivors at work: content analysis of cancer survivor, healthcare provider, and employer perspectives

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