Abstract
BackgroundSociodemographic, health- and work-related factors have been found to influence return to work in cancer survivors. It is feasible though that behavioural factors, such as expectation of being at work, could also affect work-related outcomes. Therefore, the effect of earlier identified factors and expectation of being at work on future employment status in cancer survivors was explored. To assess the degree to which these factors specifically concern cancer survivors, a comparison with heart attack survivors was made.MethodsData from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing were used. Cancer and heart attack survivors of working age in the UK were included and followed up for 2 years. Baseline characteristics of both cancer and heart attack survivors were compared regarding employment status. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed in survivors at work, and the interaction between independent variables and diagnose group was assessed.ResultsIn cancer survivors at work (N = 159), alcohol consumption, participating in moderate or vigorous sport activities, general health and participation were univariate associated with employment status at two-year follow-up. Only fair general health (compared to very good general health) remained statistically significant in the multivariate model (OR 0.31; 95% CI 0.13–0.76; p = 0.010). In heart attack survivors at work (N = 78), gender, general health and expectation of being at work were univariate associated with employment status at follow-up. Female gender (OR 0.03; 95% CI 0.00–0.57; p = 0.018) and high expectation of being at work (OR 10.68; 95% CI 1.23–93.92; p = 0.033) remained significant in the multivariate model. The influence of gender (p = 0.066) and general health (p = 0.020) regarding employment status was found to differ significantly between cancer and heart attack survivors.ConclusionsWhen predicting future employment status in cancer survivors in the UK, general health is the most relevant factor to consider. While expectation of being at work did not show any significant influence in cancer survivors, in heart attack survivors, it should not be disregarded though, when developing interventions to affect their employment status. Future research should focus on more specific measures for expectation, and additional behavioural factors, such as self-efficacy, and their effect on employment status.
Highlights
Sociodemographic, health- and work-related factors have been found to influence return to work in cancer survivors
Employment status after 2 years was measured in 279 cancer survivors and 147 heart attack survivors
The current study showed that cancer survivors participating actively in daily life, by means of having a hobby, going on a day trip or reading a newspaper, are more likely to be at work
Summary
Sociodemographic, health- and work-related factors have been found to influence return to work in cancer survivors. To several sociodemographic factors, such as younger age, predominantly health- and workrelated factors have been found to influence a range of work-related outcomes in cancer survivors. Perceived employer accommodation, flexible working arrangements, less physical symptoms and lower duration of sick leave all seem to be related to earlier return to work (RTW) in this specific population [4]. Still, interventions targeting these factors to support RTW or other workrelated outcomes in cancer survivors hardly report positive effects [5]. Since an employee takes a final decision to go to work or not, it is feasible that personal or behavioural factors, such as self-efficacy, motivation or expectation of being at work, could influence employment status [6]
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