Abstract
BackgroundThis prospective multicentre-study aimed to analyze return to work (RTW) among prostate cancer survivors 12 months after having attended a cancer rehabilitation program and to identify risk factors for no and late RTW.MethodsSeven hundred eleven employed prostate cancer survivors treated with radical prostatectomy completed validated self-rating questionnaires at the beginning, the end, and 12 months post rehabilitation. Disease-related data was obtained from physicians and medical records. Work status and time until RTW were assessed at 12-months follow-up. Data were analyzed by univariate analyses (t-tests, chi-square-tests) and multivariate logistic regression models (OR with 95% CI).ResultsThe RTW rate at 12-months follow-up was 87% and the median time until RTW was 56 days. Univariate analyses revealed significant group differences in baseline personal characteristics and health status, psychosocial well-being and work-related factors between survivors who had vs. had not returned to work. Patients’ perceptions of not being able to work (OR 3.671) and feeling incapable to return to the former job (OR 3.162) were the strongest predictors for not having returned to work at 12-months follow-up. Being diagnosed with UICC tumor stage III (OR 2.946) and patients’ perceptions of not being able to work (OR 4.502) were the strongest predictors for late RTW (≥ 8 weeks).ConclusionsA high proportion of prostate cancer survivors return to work after a cancer rehabilitation program. However, results indicate the necessity to early identify survivors with low RTW motivation and unfavorable work-related perceptions who may benefit from intensified occupational support during cancer rehabilitation.
Highlights
This prospective multicentre-study aimed to analyze return to work (RTW) among prostate cancer survivors 12 months after having attended a cancer rehabilitation program and to identify risk factors for no and late RTW
Survivors had been diagnosed with prostate cancer approximately 3 months prior to the program, with International Union Against Cancer (UICC) tumor stage II being most prevalent
In order to organize such support, reasons of survivors’ negative perceptions, for example feeling incapable to return to work or their intention to apply for a disability pension, need to be clarified
Summary
This prospective multicentre-study aimed to analyze return to work (RTW) among prostate cancer survivors 12 months after having attended a cancer rehabilitation program and to identify risk factors for no and late RTW. Return to work (RTW) is highly relevant for cancer recovery and the social reintegration of working-age cancer patients, as work provides social connections, self-esteem and independence, and helps to regain a sense of normalcy [1, 2]. An international review reporting a mean RTW rate of 63.5% indicates that approximately one third of cancer patients do not work 1 year after diagnosis [5]. As some adverse effects of not working may increase with the time passing, time until RTW is a relevant outcome of successful occupational reintegration [4]. A growing body of evidence suggests personal, disease- and treatment-related, psychosocial and work-related factors that may be barriers for RTW or may cause delayed RTW [4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11]
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