TY - JOUR
T1 - Changes in employment status, barriers to, and facilitators of (return to) work in breast cancer survivors 5–10 years after diagnosis
AU - van Maarschalkerweerd, Pomme E. A.
AU - Schaapveld, Michael
AU - Paalman, Carmen H.
AU - Aaronson, Neil K.
AU - Duijts, Saskia F. A.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Pink Ribbon Foundation [2011.WO17.C102]. The involvement of Dr. Saskia Duijts in this study was supported by a fellowship from the Dutch Cancer Society [VU2013-5866]. This work was also supported by KWF Kankerbestrijding and Pink Ribbons Project. We would like to thank all patients for their participation in the focus group interviews, and Maxime Gits (MG) for her role as a minutes secretary during the interviews.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2020/10/8
Y1 - 2020/10/8
N2 - Purpose: To qualitatively investigate changes in employment status, barriers to and facilitators of (return to) work in breast cancer survivors 5–10 years after diagnosis. Materials and methods: Women were eligible to participate in the focus groups if they were younger than 55 years and were employed at time of diagnosis. Data were analysed by two independent researchers using thematic content analysis. Results: Nineteen women participated in three semi-structured focus groups, of whom 18 reported a change in employment status 5–10 years after diagnosis. Perceived barriers to (return to) work shortly after breast cancer diagnosis tended to be disease- and treatment-related, while 5–10 years later, they were personal- and work-related. Participants recommended open communication and support at the workplace, and comprehensive information from (occupational) health care professionals to facilitate dealing with breast cancer at work. Conclusions: Breast cancer survivors still experience changes in employment status 5–10 years after diagnosis. (Occupational) health care professionals should be alert that perceived barriers for returning to work change over time. Future research should focus on increasing awareness (at work) of breast cancer survivors’ needs, providing adequate information and support to all involved, and developing interventions to sustain survivors’ work ability at the long term.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Even long after diagnosis and treatment, a sizeable number of breast cancer survivors report a change in employment status, such as job loss. (Occupational) health care professionals should be alert that barriers for returning to work and retaining work change over time. There is a lack of awareness and a shortage of interventions regarding work-related issues for breast cancer survivors at long-term follow-up.
AB - Purpose: To qualitatively investigate changes in employment status, barriers to and facilitators of (return to) work in breast cancer survivors 5–10 years after diagnosis. Materials and methods: Women were eligible to participate in the focus groups if they were younger than 55 years and were employed at time of diagnosis. Data were analysed by two independent researchers using thematic content analysis. Results: Nineteen women participated in three semi-structured focus groups, of whom 18 reported a change in employment status 5–10 years after diagnosis. Perceived barriers to (return to) work shortly after breast cancer diagnosis tended to be disease- and treatment-related, while 5–10 years later, they were personal- and work-related. Participants recommended open communication and support at the workplace, and comprehensive information from (occupational) health care professionals to facilitate dealing with breast cancer at work. Conclusions: Breast cancer survivors still experience changes in employment status 5–10 years after diagnosis. (Occupational) health care professionals should be alert that perceived barriers for returning to work change over time. Future research should focus on increasing awareness (at work) of breast cancer survivors’ needs, providing adequate information and support to all involved, and developing interventions to sustain survivors’ work ability at the long term.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Even long after diagnosis and treatment, a sizeable number of breast cancer survivors report a change in employment status, such as job loss. (Occupational) health care professionals should be alert that barriers for returning to work and retaining work change over time. There is a lack of awareness and a shortage of interventions regarding work-related issues for breast cancer survivors at long-term follow-up.
KW - Employment
KW - breast cancer
KW - cancer survivorship
KW - focus group
KW - qualitative research
KW - return to work
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85063343998&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09638288.2019.1583779
DO - 10.1080/09638288.2019.1583779
M3 - Article
C2 - 30907148
VL - 42
SP - 3052
EP - 3058
JO - Disability and Rehabilitation
JF - Disability and Rehabilitation
SN - 0963-8288
IS - 21
ER -