Long-Term Employment Outcomes among Female Cancer Survivors

Evaluation of job stress and quality of life in individuals returning to work after cancer treatment

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of work life on work stress and quality of life in cancer patients returning to work after treatment.

METHODS

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2021 and June 2021 with 302 cancer patients who ad registered at the oncology outpatient clinic of a university hospital and had started or continued work after treatment. Data were collected using a personal information questionnaire, the Perceived Work Stress Scale, and the EORTC QLQ-C30. Results with p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 44.97 ± 10.08 years. They were predominantly women, had a diagnosis of breast cancer, and had received chemotherapy. The patients' perceived work stress score was 2.10 ± 0.68 (level D) and the EORTC QLQ-C30 score was 65.95 ± 20.11. Women, participants who were worried about their jobs, those who worked >36 months after cancer treatment, public and private sector workers, those who considered leaving their jobs after cancer treatment, and those who considered changing jobs had higher work stress scores.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study suggest that perceived work stress negatively affects the quality of life in individuals returning to work after cancer treatment. Therefore, individuals should be supported in returning to work and subsequent phases, and future should focus on the concepts of rehabilitation and return to work.

Multimorbidity and Employment Outcomes Among Middle-Aged US Cancer Survivors

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between multimorbidity and subsequent 2-year employment outcomes among middle-aged United States (US) cancer survivors. In addition, we examined whether the relationship differed by survivor characteristics.

METHODS

Data of 633 cancer survivors (ages 51 to 64) from the 2014 Health and Retirement Study were used to identify multimorbidity profiles and evaluate associations between multimorbidity and prolonged unemployment during follow-up.

RESULTS

Approximately 64% of cancer survivors met the criteria for multimorbidity. Latent class analysis revealed three distinct multimorbidity profiles distinguished by the presence or absence of psychiatric disorders. We observed a significant association between high psychiatric multimorbidity and prolonged unemployment after 2-year follow-up (relative risk = 2.78, 95% Confidence Interval = 1.28 to 6.00), with the effect more pronounced among low-income survivors.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychiatric multimorbidity was associated with prolonged unemployment among middle-aged cancer survivors, particularly among low-income survivors.

Subjective life expectancy and associated factors among cancer survivors over 45 years old: evidence from the CHARLS

PURPOSE

Associations between subjective life expectancy (SLE) and a variety of factors are well documented, but the relationship regarding cancer is limited. The purpose of this study was to disclose this potential relationship and identify the covariates that might influence this relationship.

METHODS

Data were extracted from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), and a sample of 448 cancer survivors and 43,795 individuals without cancer were analyzed. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression was performed to examine the SLE associated with cancer survivors and participants without cancer after controlling for demographic, socioeconomic, health-related, and psychosocial factors.

RESULTS

The findings revealed that cancer survivors had a 39% reduction in longer life expectancy compared to respondents without cancer. Disparities in SLE existed based on diverse individual characteristics. The rate of high SLE in urban citizens was 75% higher compared to that of rural residents, while the rate of high SLE in participants with disability fell by 55%. The rate of high SLE decreased by 22% and 35% in respondents with high blood pressure and diabetes, respectively. The proportion of respondents with high SLE was reduced by 70% when depression was present. Furthermore, the out-of-pocket expenditures of participants with and without cancer showed a significant difference, but discrepancies with respect to SLE among different cancer treatment options were not found.

CONCLUSION

The more challenging one's socioeconomic status is and the unhealthier one's physical and mental conditions are, the lower one's prospect of subjective life expectancy is. Further work is warranted to confirm the causal association between subjective life expectancy and certain characteristics in cancer survivors.

Erratum: Ekenga, C.; et al. Long-Term Employment Outcomes among Female Cancer Survivors. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 2751

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Results from a prospective longitudinal survey of employment and work outcomes in newly diagnosed cancer patients during and after curative-intent chemotherapy: A Wisconsin Oncology Network study

BACKGROUND

Postcancer work limitations may affect a substantial proportion of patients and contribute to the "financial toxicity" of cancer treatment. The degree and nature of work limitations and employment outcomes are poorly understood for cancer patients, particularly in the immediate period of transition after active treatment. We prospectively examined employment, work ability, and work limitations during and after treatment.

METHODS

A total of 120 patients receiving curative therapy who were employed prior to their cancer diagnosis and who intended to work during or after end of treatment (EOT) completed surveys at baseline (pretreatment), EOT, and 3, 6, and 12 months after EOT. Surveys included measures of employment, work ability, and work limitations. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means with standard deviations) were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 111 participants completed the baseline survey. On average, participants were 48 years of age and were mostly white (95%) and female (82%) with a diagnosis of breast cancer (69%). Full-time employment decreased during therapy (from 88% to 50%) and returned to near prediagnosis levels by 12-month follow-up (78%). Work-related productivity loss due to health was high during treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the first to report the effects of curative intent cancer therapy on employment, work ability, and work limitations both during and after treatment. Perceived work ability was generally high overall 12 months after EOT, although a minority reported persistent difficulty. A prospective analysis of factors (eg, job type, education, symptoms) most associated with work limitations is underway to assist in identifying at-risk patients.