Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
Research and Innovations (new projects / technology / innovations / service models)
Authors (including presenting author) :
Chun OK (1), Ng WLD (2)(3), So CYS(2)(3), Fielding R (2)(3), Mehnert A (4), Kwong A(5), Wong L (5), Fung WWS(1), Fong D (6), Chan S(7), Molasiotis A (8)(9), So W (10), Lam WTW(2)(3)
Affiliation :
(1) Department of Surgery, Kwong Wah Hospital, (2) LKS Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, Centre for Psycho-Oncology Research and Training, The University of Hong Kong, (3) LKS Faculty of Medicine, Jockey Club Institute of Cancer Care, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, (4) University of Medical Center, The University of Leipzig, Germany, (5) LKS Faculty of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, (6) LKS Faculty of Medicine, School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, (7) Department of Surgery, United Christian Hospital, (8) School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, (9) College of Arts, Humanities and Education, University of Derby, (10) The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Introduction :
Returning to work (RTW) in working-age people following cancer is considered an important indicator of life renormalization. Existing evidence of RTW has originated predominately from Western settings. Yet employment and RTW are likely highly variable by region because of differences in healthcare, employment policies, social security, and cultural perspectives. The RTW experiences of working-age Hong Kong Chinese breast cancer survivors (BCS) after primary surgery remain unexplored.
Objectives :
To document work-related outcomes, including RTW rate, time to RTW, work productivity loss, and activity impairment, during the initial year following surgery among local BCS and identify potential causal co-variants.
Methodology :
Design: A 12-month longitudinal study design.
Setting: Multicenter setting involving three breast clinics in public hospitals.
Participants: 371 Chinese BCS who were employed or self-employed at the time of diagnosis and had received surgery as main treatment no more than four weeks prior to recruitment (baseline).
Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s): RTW status and time to RTW were assessed at baseline (T1), followed by three follow-up assessments at 4-months (T2), 6-months (T3), and 12-months (T4) post-baseline. Work productivity loss and activity impairment were assessed at T4.
Result & Outcome :
A relatively low mean RTW rate (46.2%), prolonged duration of RTW (median=183 days), and significant proportions of T4 work productivity loss (20%), and activity impairment (26%), were seen in our sample. BCS who were blue-collar workers with lower household income, poorer financial well-being, lower RTW self-efficacy, poorer job satisfaction, greater physical symptom distress, impaired physical functioning, and unfavourable work conditions were more likely to experience undesired work-related outcomes.
Using a multifactorial approach, effective RTW interventions should focus on not only symptom management, but also to address psychosocial and work-environmental concerns. An organizational or policy level intervention involving a multidisciplinary team comprising nurses, psychologists, occupational health professionals, and relevant stakeholders of the workplace might be helpful in developing a tailored organizational policy promoting work-related outcomes in BCS.
