Cancer survivors' views of work 3 years post diagnosis: a UK perspective.
The impact of cancer on people's working lives is an increasingly important concern but knowledge on this issue is very limited in the UK. Forty-one people of working age were purposively selected from the North Western Cancer Intelligence Service and interviewed by telephone to describe their experiences to returning to work following diagnosis and treatment. The data was subject to qualitative thematic analysis using NVIVO software. The results indicated the importance of returning to work from diagnosis and through treatment which was then followed by a re-assessment of work-life balance when people recovered from primary treatment and were back in employment. The principle motivations for returning to work were a quest for normality and financial pressures. One barrier to returning to work was the lack of medical advice from cancer specialists and general practitioners regarding the appropriate time to get back to work. A good relationship with their employer/manager was a major influence on returning to work and appeared to be related to duration of service rather than occupational status. These findings demonstrate the importance of paid work to people diagnosed with cancer and highlight the need to improve the support from medical professionals, especially oncology nurses.
Amir
Ziv
Z
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK. ziv.amir@manchester.ac.uk
Neary
David
D
Luker
Karen
K
D000041:Absenteeism; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D004739:England; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D036301:Qualitative Research; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology