title: Job loss and reemployment after a cancer diagnosis in Koreans - a prospective cohort study.
abstract: Patients undergoing treatment for cancer have reported a variety of work-related problems. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a cancer diagnosis on employment status, and to identify relevant associated factors. This prospective cohort study was conducted at the National Cancer Center in Korea. Male patients newly diagnosed with stomach, liver, or colorectal cancers were recruited. Patients were interviewed and asked to complete an employment questionnaire every 3 months for 24 months. Clinical, sociodemographic and work-related factors were assessed. There were 305 male patients who had a primary diagnosis of cancer and underwent appropriate treatment. Of the 305 male patients who were employed at the time of diagnosis, 53% lost their job, and of these 23% later reemployed. In a multivariate Cox regression analysis, job loss was significantly associated with years of education, job characteristics and disease stage. Reemployment was significantly associated with disease stage and cancer site. Change of employment was common among cancer patients in Korea. With an understanding of the factors involved, it should be possible to reduce unnecessary work cessation, and increase the rate of employment of cancer survivors.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for National Cancer Control and Evaluation, National Cancer Center, 809, Madu-dong, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 411-769, Korea.
authors.forename: Kui Son
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Eun-Jung
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin-Hwa
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Sung-Gyeong
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Jae-Gahb
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Eun-Cheol
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003710:Demography; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014478:Unemployment / Q000523:psychology*