The associations between late effects of cancer treatment, work ability and job resources: a systematic review

Ingrid G Boelhouwer,Willemijn Vermeer,Tinka Van Vuuren

doi:10.1007/s00420-020-01567-w

Ingrid G Boelhouwer, Willemijn Vermeer + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-020-01567-w

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Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of this review is to evaluate associations between possible late effects of cancer treatment (i.e. physical complaints, fatigue, or cognitive complaints) and work ability among workers beyond 2 years after cancer diagnosis who returned to work. The role of job resources (social support, autonomy, leadership style, coaching, and organizational culture) is also evaluated.MethodsThe search for studies was conducted in PsycINFO, Medline, Business Source Premier, ABI/Inform, CINAHL, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. A quality assessment was used to clarify the quality across studies.ResultsThe searches included 2303 records. Finally, 36 studies were included. Work ability seemed to decline shortly after cancer treatment and recover in the first 2 years after diagnosis, although it might still be lower than among healthy workers. No data were available on the course of work ability beyond the first 2 years. Late physical complaints, fatigue and cognitive complaints were negatively related with work ability across all relevant studies. Furthermore, social support and autonomy were associated with higher work ability, but no data were available on a possible buffering effect of these job resources on the relationship between late effects and work ability. As far as reported, most research was carried out among salaried workers.ConclusionIt is unknown if late effects of cancer treatment diminish work ability beyond two years after being diagnosed with cancer. Therefore, more longitudinal research into the associations between possible late effects of cancer treatment and work ability needs to be carried out. Moreover, research is needed on the buffering effect of job resources, both for salaried and self-employed workers.

Highlights

A growing number of people in the workforce have experienced a cancer diagnosis at some time during their life
One study, using a sample 2–6 years after different types of cancer diagnosis, did not report any differences (Taskila et al 2007). These results demonstrate that work ability tends to be lower among cancer survivors than among samples without a past cancer diagnosis on the long term
As high numbers of working people diagnosed with cancer re-enter the workplace and the group of workers with a cancer diagnosis in their life history will continue to expand, it is important to have an overview over the current state of knowledge about the course of work ability after diagnosis, and about the associations between late effects of cancer treatment and work ability

Summary

Introduction

A growing number of people in the workforce have experienced a cancer diagnosis at some time during their life. The group of workers with a cancer diagnosis in their life history will continue to expand as survival rates are greatly improving, as the incidence of cancer is expected to rise a further 75% over the two decades (World Health Organization 2012; Stewart and Wild 2014) and as the retirement age is expected to be raised even further in many countries. As studies concerning cancer and work merely focus on the first two years after diagnosis and. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health (2021) 94:147–189 often concern whether people return to work, less is known about the population after return to work beyond these first two years. It is important to focus on the occupational well-being and the situation in the workplace of this group of workers after they returned to work

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